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How Does BIND Perform on PPC?

Posted by Cliff on from the benchmarks-anonymous dept.

wmulvihillDxR asks: "I'm getting ready to replace our DNS box which serves about 15 zones but will soon grow to more. The current DNS box (a x86 box) gets hit pretty heavy sometimes. I'd like to know if any /.ers have had any success running BIND on any of the PPC Linux distros. We have a multitude of Mac boxen sitting around doing nothing (Yes, I work in a Mac shop, but use Linux on x86 for our servers). I'd prefer to put it on a x86 box but we don't have many of those handy. Are there any reports on using PPC machines for DNS? Any recommended PPC Linux distros?"

8 of 12 comments (clear)

  1. A *little* experience by SmittyTheBold · · Score: 2

    At work we run our tertiary DNS on an old Mac.(macdns.cait.org) Our secondary and primary are hosted on some old MIPS boxen running OpenBSD. We used to have it on a 6100/66 with MkLinux, but since that distribution seemed to be going nowhere we moves up to a machine with a 120 MHz 604 in it. Performance is satisfactory, but then again that particular machine doesn't get hit particularly hard. For a Linux distro, I like Yellow Dog as it's designed ot be a server variant, not workstation. My suggestion would be to try it and see how it performs. Do a basic install of the OS and see how it performs for you, then clean it up if and/or when you decide it's good enough.

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    ± 29 dB
  2. Re:Other DNS by Russ+Nelson · · Score: 2

    I have to second the choice of djbdns. It's extremely portable software. Download, untar, make setup check, tinydns-conf, start svscan and you're up and running.
    -russ

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    Don't piss off The Angry Economist
  3. Re:It's really going to be a matter of... by CrayDrygu · · Score: 2
    On the other hand, f.root-servers.net is two Compaq AlphaServers, each with four 500mhz processors and 8gb RAM.

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    "I personal[ly] think Unix is "superior" because on LSD it tastes like Blue." -- jbarnett

  4. Well... by PhilBrut · · Score: 2

    If all you have available are Macs, use 'em. Put 'em to good use. And rescue them from MacOS :)

    As to the best distribution for PPC Macs... it depends on the Mac ie a NuBus Mac is gonna run a different distro from a PCI Mac. And even on PCI Macs, your success rate will depend greatly on how old of a PCI Mac it is.

    You would do good to ask around, or even take some time and play with what's available before you commit to a particular distribution.

  5. Re:It's really going to be a matter of... by bumbaclaat · · Score: 2

    not really, even a huge BIND name server would rarely fully use 64MB of RAM.. Paul Vixie did for many years and may still run g.root-servers.net on a 486 with 64MB

  6. Re:Other DNS by Aunt+Mable · · Score: 2
    There's a long article on K5 about DNS Cache, and as that says anything I could better I'll leave it at that.

    OR WILL I?

    DNS Cache is much cleaner than BIND and it's easier to get good results. Although a well-tuned BIND is still faster.

    -- Eat your greens or I'll hit you!

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    -- Eat your greens or I'll hit you!

  7. Other DNS by SEWilco · · Score: 4
    Maybe you don't need BIND.
  8. It's really going to be a matter of... by bconway · · Score: 4

    CPU and network speed. The architecture of the machine involved really isn't going to decide anything, especially if the CPU speed difference between the two machines is large. Stick with what you're comfortable running Linux on, and just find a decent-mhz machine.

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    Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru?