Comparing Apache Performance: Solaris9 vs Linux

Hi,
We're using apache bench to compare Apache performance on the
following hardware/OS:
Linux kernel: 2.4.18-5
cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 15
model : 2
model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.20GHz
stepping : 4
cpu MHz : 2200.095
cache size : 512 KB

VS
SunOS 5.9
SunFire 120V
The sparcv9 processor operates at 648 MHz

Running the same Apache 2.0.47 code built on the servers themselves.
A 10k static file is used with apache bench
ab -c 10 -n 1000 http://server/10k_Static_File

The Linux box returns results 25-35% better in terms of throughput
(Kbytes/sec) and requests/sec.

Questions:
1) Is this to be expected given the Linux box's faster CPU ?
2) How can I be assured there is not a tuning parameter we have not
tried on the Sun box to make it go faster? (we've tried the most
popular: mmap (20% boost), --enable-nonportable-atomics=yes, dns
disable, AllowOverride None etc)?
3) Is there a platform independent profiling tool (ala Quantify - but
for free that will tell me the Linux box is doing the same amount
of work - just faster? (eg a way to make this a more apples to apples
comparison)

Any pointers to benchmarks comparing the platforms would be
appreciated,

Thanks in advance for any feedback,

Fletcher Cocquyt
Systems Administrator
fletch RemoveThis @med.stanford.edu

On 3 Sep 2003, Fletcher Cocquyt wrote:

 > Hi,
 > We're using apache bench to compare Apache performance on the
 > following hardware/OS:
 > Linux kernel: 2.4.18-5
 > cat /proc/cpuinfo
 > processor : 0
 > vendor_id : GenuineIntel
 > cpu family : 15
 > model : 2
 > model name : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.20GHz
 > stepping : 4
 > cpu MHz : 2200.095
 > cache size : 512 KB
 >
 > VS
 > SunOS 5.9
 > SunFire 120V
 > The sparcv9 processor operates at 648 MHz
 >
 > Running the same Apache 2.0.47 code built on the servers themselves.
 > A 10k static file is used with apache bench
<font color=purple> > ab -c 10 -n 1000 <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://server/10k_Static_File</font" target="_blank">http://server/10k_Static_File</font</a>>
 >
 > The Linux box returns results 25-35% better in terms of throughput
 > (Kbytes/sec) and requests/sec.
 >
 > Questions:
 > 1) Is this to be expected given the Linux box's faster CPU ?

Of course; the x86 CPU is nearly four times faster than the one
in the V120.

 > 2) How can I be assured there is not a tuning parameter we have not
 > tried on the Sun box to make it go faster? (we've tried the most
 > popular: mmap (20% boost), --enable-nonportable-atomics=yes, dns
 > disable, AllowOverride None etc)?
 > 3) Is there a platform independent profiling tool (ala Quantify - but
 > for free that will tell me the Linux box is doing the same amount
 > of work - just faster? (eg a way to make this a more apples to apples
 > comparison)

If I were you, I'd install Solaris 9 x86 on the Intel box.
I reckon it'll fly...

--
Rich Teer, SCNA, SCSA

President,
Rite Online Inc.

Voice: +1 (250) 979-1638
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