User Guide

Optimizing the File System Performance 21
NetWare Server Disks and Storage Devices Administration Guide
103-000179-001
August 30, 2001
Novell Confidential
Manual 99a38 July 17, 2001
2 Optimizing the File System
Performance
NetWare
®
provides several methods for improving the performance of your
file system. For a list of general guidelines for conserving disk space and
improving disk performance, see “Optimizing Storage Disk Capacity” on
page 21.
To improve disk reads and writes, see “Improving Disk Reads” on page 24 and
“Improving Disk Writes” on page 26. You can also increase the speed of disk
reads and writes by striping volume segments across multiple disks. Disk
striping is called Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID). For more
information about RAID, see Stripe Data Across Storage Devices (RAID) in
the Novell Storage Services Administration Guide.
The following is a list of suggestions for saving disk space:
 Compressing files. See File Compression in the Traditional File Services
Administration Guide.
 Permanently deleting files. See Salvaging and Purging Files in the
Traditional File Services Administration Guide.
Optimizing Storage Disk Capacity
There are several options for increasing the capacity of your storage disks. The
following is a list of options you can use to improve your file system storage
capacity:
 Enable block suballocation if you are using the traditional NetWare file
system. This eliminates having unused data blocks on your volumes. This
feature works only on traditional partitions and volumes. Block
suballocation is enabled by default, but can be disabled when the volume