Performance on Dell servers

[filhoarrais]

Hello,

I installed OPNsense 16.7 on a Dell R420 server with RAID controller (RAID 1, two discs). At first it took 1 hour to install, the process was very slow. I noticed that when activating Squid navigation is slow, deactivated local cache and the slow pace persists.

Any idea what might be? 

[weust]

Sounds like a storage controller issue to me.
Apart from the USB stick image, is there another controller you could test with?
Perhaps the SATA controller for the DVD drive might be an option to try out.

[franco]

Persistent slow IO sounds like an issue between FreeBSD and the hardware. Are there any compatibility options that you can set from the BIOS? Flipping AHCI and similar settings may help.

[filhoarrais]

Excuse me for the delay in responding.

SATA configuration is to AHCI, updated the firmware, we'll see if there will be a gain in performance.

[dcol]

An R420 is probably overkill for firewall software. But whatever is sitting on the bench. I use an old Dell Optiplex 780 with an SSD disk and have no performance issues at all. May want to check the updates on that R420 and using RAID will be slow if it isn't using a PERC H710/810 adapter.

[FarmServer]

I have an hp and it was quite slow to install and boot up at first but after a few times it picked up 'slightly'. I say slightly because whatever is going on in the QPI synchronization, ecc ram checks, trusted computing, and what else still take forever. I imagine Dell is very similar in terms of features.
Once it was running everything is fairly snappy, and thats on an sd card. So I could only imagine your delays might be a hardware issue.
For instance on the tech specs for my hp they cry and cry about not using their approved drives and whatnot so perhaps its just an issue with a setting or two on whatever hd you are using.

[Arakangel Michael]

As was mentioned, you can try the sata port for the DVD drive (black cable on the side of the drive:

http://cdn1.alphr.com/sites/alphr/files/styles/16x9_860/public/images/dir_370/it_photo_185134.jpg?itok=ncdEIp2A

There is another sata port (dark blue) that is above the memory sockets for 'CPU 1' here:

http://g02.a.alicdn.com/kf/HTB1YlyXKFXXXXcfXVXXq6xXFXXXG/072XWF-Motherboard-For-PowerEdge-R420.jpg

I would set these to ATA mode, if AHCI is still slow. ATA is 'simpler' command set.

Alternatively if you want a mirror I would get 2x Lenovo 24 GB SSDs on ebay (about $12 each), and this:

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124095&ignorebbr=1&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-PC-_-pla-_-Hard+Drive+Controllers+%2F+RAID+Cards-_-N82E16816124095&gclid=CKjdq4j-49ICFYONswodCbgM4w&gclsrc=aw.ds

I haven't tried this combo with BSD / xsense yet, but Dell's controllers have issues with certain versions of other OS's in past experience (they used to have issues just with ESX for instance).