Smoothwall VM load/speed problems

[rickypike]

I am running Smoothwall Guardian 3 (Network Guardian 2008p0 final series-7.0 i386) as a VM and after speaking with Craig (Smoothwall) yesterday at our LA network managers meeting I was explaining the problems I was having with load/speed at regular intervals. He said this could be that using a VM it is hammering the database every 15 minutes or so thus cauing massive load on the system, this ties in with my issues. He has explained to me how use a seperate VM for the database which I am going to create and then link, just wanted to know what config I should use for the smothwall DB VM

 

The current Smoothwall VM is configured with 2 CPU's and 4GB RAM and 250GB HDD, do I need to replicate this config for the Database or can I get away with a smaller partition for HDD? I have limited space left on my 3 ESX hosts so may have to move other VM around to accomodate

 

Cheers

[DT2]

You'd get away with a relatively basic system for DB and report processing.

The main issue with a VM is disk based, because at any given time you may have 2 or 3 or even more VM's attempting to write to a particular disk/array at once.

1CPU 1gb Ram should suffice.

 

DT

[rickypike]

Cheers, that was what Craig said, the disks are being accessed by several VM's at once hence my load issues.

How much space would you allocate for the HDD and are there any other special requirements for the DB or is the standard config ok?

Just to double check once I have configured the VM I would use a local database and then point the original SW VM to remote DB in the following: info » settings » database settings - remote

Cheers Ricky

[DT2]

Your disk size would depend entirely on your intended retention period and the amount of users you have.

I should Imagine 40-50gb with a retention period of around six months would be entirely sufficient. If you only intend to retain a month's logs then 30Gb should be more than enough.

Yes, the remote part is correct.

 

DT

[rickypike]

I am currently retaining 6 months so I'll stick with that.

Many thanks

[DT2]

Anytime.

Let one of us know if you have any issues.

 

DT

[Guest salan]

Cheers, that was what Craig said, the disks are being accessed by several VM's at once hence my load issues.

How much space would you allocate for the HDD and are there any other special requirements for the DB or is the standard config ok?

Just to double check once I have configured the VM I would use a local database and then point the original SW VM to remote DB in the following: info » settings » database settings - remote

Cheers Ricky

I was interested in this as we have a problem of running out of disk space for the logs, so moving them to another VM (or even another disk) would be usefull.

But we do not have the options you are mentioning?

Alan

[DT2]

I suspect you are running School Guardian?

 

DT

[Guest salan]

I suspect you are running School Guardian?

 

DT

Yep got it in one! (note to ones self.. must REAd the posts better! lol)

[DT2]

It's no problem, you just need to have a chat with your account manager who can get you upgraded to Network Guardian with G3/G2 however you require.

 

DT