64-bit: compile squid 2.6 on 11.31/Itanium

[Backend Kadaster]

We are using squid as our port to Internet. Caching is important. Our system has 16GB memory, but the Iexpress 32-bit squid can only use 900MB (cache_mem=225MB) 2.7 stable 6).
We've managed to compile a 64-bit binary, but no response from squid and some silly messages appear.

My questions:
- are there successfull implementations of 64-bit squid out there?
- is it worth the effort to get squid 64-bit running properly?
- any hints/tips for tuning HP-UX 11.31 for squid?

My regards will be enormeous!

[VK2COT · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Firstly, why do not try more
recent versions. Squid 2.7 oldish.

a) Did you try the following versions:

http://hpux.connect.org.uk/hppd/hpux/Networking/WWW/squid-3.0.STABLE16/

b) I am amazed that you use cache_mem of
more than 2 GB. Why?

This parameter does not specify the maximum
process size but the limit on how much
additional RAM Squid will use as memory cache.

I do not know how many users Squid serves so
it is difficult to know your design goals.

c) Squid has not been very much tested running in 64-bit mode in 64-bit
environments. If you do not really need
huge cache_mem, than you do not need it
anyway.

Could you provide more details
on how many users is Squid supposed to
support in your environment, what
authentication (if any) it will use,
how much cache on disk you plan to
set up, and so on.

Cheers,

VK2COT

[Backend Kadaster]

> Firstly, why do not try more
> recent versions. Squid 2.7 oldish.
I did'nt know v3 has already quite some time 'production'-status...

> Porting and Archives: squid-3.0.STABLE16
also 32-bit, with this 900MB memory size limit...

> I am amazed that you use cache_mem of
> more than 2 GB. Why?
with a cache_mem of 200MB, the process size keeps a little below 900 MB. Above the size
squid crashes with: FATAL: xcalloc: Unable to allocate 1 blocks of 120 bytes!

> This parameter does not specify the maximum
> process size but the limit on how much
> additional RAM Squid will use as memory
> cache.
Yes, I'm familiar with squid and his configuration

> Squid has not been very much tested
> running in 64-bit mode in 64-bit
> environments.
We ran past 4 years with squid on Tru64 with about 2000 users. From the Internet Express kit from HP.

> If you do not really need huge cache_mem,
> than you do not need it anyway.
I hope on more cache-hit rate with a larger cache...

> on how many users for Squid
about 2000 individuals spread over 50 Citrix servers

> what authentication
none

> how much cache on disk
64 GB

Our squid cannot connect to Internet, but via a (non-squid) proxy from our provider.

Thanks for your help!

[Dennis Handly]

>with a cache_mem of 200 MB, the process size keeps a little below 900 MB.

By linking with -N, you can double the size to 2 Gb, without porting to 64 bit.

[Backend Kadaster]

Thanks! That -N option for gcc did the job. Now I can increase the cache_mem size. squid (32-bit) is now running, process size is growing, but is now about 600MB. I have to wait some time for more users surfing and filling the cache.

[Backend Kadaster]

squids memory usage (compiled with -N) looks good.

But are there any experiences with about 2000 squid users on HP-UX?
Is this the proper forum for this question?