topic Re: CIFS Limits in Operating System - HP-UX

CIFS Limits

A. Daniel King_1 — Sat, 08 Feb 2003 00:42:17 GMT

Hi, folks.

Does anyone know how HP-UX handles large CIFS file systems, say in the multiple-TB range?

What are the maximum number of entries that can be in a single CIFS directory/mount-point?

Any and all information is appreciated!

Re: CIFS Limits

Bill Hassell — Sat, 08 Feb 2003 00:54:10 GMT

Which direction? Exporting Tb filesystems to a PC, or importing from a PC? HP-UX 11.0 and higher supports 1 Tb filesystems and files although without some of the latest patches, you can probably create multi-TB filesystems/files. The real question is likely: can a PC handle multi-TB filesystems (native or shared). I would be very concerned about that much data being shared between unrelated operating systems.

As far as entries, the same question applies. Essentially, CIFS is a translator, taking an existing filesystem and mapping requests to/from the client(s). If the concern is with a TB filesystem with millions (or billions) of files, I would look at a very different design for sharing such data.

Re: CIFS Limits

Vincent Fleming — Sat, 08 Feb 2003 00:57:38 GMT

You mean as a CIFS server? ala' SAMBA?

SAMBA does not have any pre-set limit, as far as I've ever seen or heard. The SMB/CIFS protocol is pretty flexible in that regard as well.

I believe that any restrictions of that sort would come from the underlying filesystem - HFS or JFS.

So, your UNIX filesystem defines what the maximum is.

I don't know what the maximums are for JFS - pretty much unlimited, if I remember correctly. HFS is much more restrictive, and I would not recommend using it for things like this.

Good luck!

Vince

Re: CIFS Limits

Steven E. Protter — Sun, 09 Feb 2003 03:22:51 GMT

I'm currently running tests, exporting larger and larger filesystems. Also running load tests.

I'm also doing it in my private business doing the same thing on Linux.

I'm finding Samba/CIFS to be much more robust than NT SErver, and NT server is pretty darned reliable if you ask me.

SEP

Re: CIFS Limits

A. Daniel King_1 — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 15:39:23 GMT

Thanks for the replies. I should have been more explicit.

Linux/Samba server ...

HP-UX CIFS client ...

My concern is that the Linux exported file system (proprietary, non-hierarchical, VERY large), will run into some HP-UX kernel or operational limit. The potential for this systems is to grow to many TB and billions of files!

Re: CIFS Limits

Steven E. Protter — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 16:44:58 GMT

What kind of linux fs? As noted above, I've done it with both.

SEP

Re: CIFS Limits

A. Daniel King_1 — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:23:08 GMT

Red Hat Linux release 7.2 (Enigma)
Kernel 2.4.18-19.7.xsmp on an i686

Thanks for the follow up.

Re: CIFS Limits

A. Daniel King_1 — Mon, 10 Feb 2003 19:26:20 GMT

File system ... proprietary and based upon perlfs.