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File System Speedup Guide

Mandriva Linux 10.2LE 2005

September 2005

scope

We have done a few speed tests, using a kernel compile as benchmark. The table is still incomplete, but it gives an idea. We decided to publish the results, since we learned what we needed to know and we don't know when we'll get to it again. Any more tests will just fill in the blanks and won't change the conclusion.

Server

Dell PE750
2.8GHz P4
800MHz FSB
2GB SDRAM
Maxtor 80GB SATA HDD RAID1

Speed test

#! /bin/bash
cd /usr/src/linux
date >/tmp/time
make oldconfig
make bzImage
make modules
date >>/tmp/time

Results

Default install:

Ext3: 34min 16s
ReiserFS: 34min 8s
XFS: 35min 10s

With 2048 bit encryption on /swap and /home:

Ext3: TBD
ReiserFS: 34 min 49s
XFS: 35min 26s

With 2048 bit encryption on /swap and /home and noatime on all:

Ext3: TBD
ReiserFS: TBD
XFS: 34min 2s

Analysis

Ext3 and ReiserFS are almost the same speed. ReiserFS is about 0.5% faster and also uses 2.5% less disk space, while XFS is about 3% slower than ReiserFS.
Encryption on the /swap and /home directories slows the system down by about 2%.
Setting noatime to disable the last access time stamp on files, speed things up by about 3%.

Conclusion

Atime on /swap doesn't make sense, therefore it is a good idea to always turn that off. Actually, most users don't need atime at all.

Recommended configuration:

ReiserFS
Encrypted /swap and /home
Noatime

This way, data is encrypted and the machine is still a little faster than the default Ext3 install.