> The find slows things down a bit. The dd makes the entire desktop feel > like it is doing 1 fps.
Ok, summary: disk is using DMA, box is not swapping, Athlon XP (i.e. fast) CPU, 20GB Seagate disk (prob 5400 rpm, 512k cache), VIA VT8233 chipset. RH 9. On heavy disk activity, simultaneous reading and writing, the system becomes unusably slow (reaching the speed of a 4.77MHz 286). I have a P3-450 here and used to have a similar disk. Updatedb slowed things down where it was noticable, as any heavy disk activity would, but the box remains usable. Via chipsets are generally well supported, but some of them are distinctly dodgy. I would say it's a kernel bug with that particular IDE chipset. It's possible the bug shows in RH 9 but not other distros (due to exactly what kernel options were used and/or bug fixes applied). It's possible a 2.6 kernel fixes it (I wouldn't hold my breath). In a commercial environment where time = big money, replace mobo with different chipset. Alternatively, spend limited time and swap disk and or mobo with another different system for speed comparison, and google for vt8233 and linux kernel. Perhaps add another different type hard disk and threash that instead, see if things change. On no account even touch the 2.6 kernel. For a commercial desktop, compiling any kernel is out (esp the 2.6). Volker -- Volker Kuhlmann is possibly list0570 with the domain in header http://volker.dnsalias.net/ Please do not CC list postings to me.
