We are running NT 4.0 SP2 on three machines used for authentication. The
first machine is a dual processor Pentium 100MHz with 72mb RAM. The SQL
server sits on this server. The other two are dedicated RadiusNT machines.
They are single proc Pentium 100MHz with 64mb RAM. The physical network
is 10baseT. We have two subnets - one class C for the portmasters & modems
(15 PM25s) and the other for the servers.
I would point to the network and say "This might be the problem" except
that when we were running access95 coupled to RadiusNT, we saw ODBC
responses in the 900ms range (with the same network config) When we
"upgraded" to access97, we began to see responses in the 900ms - 2000ms
range. It got to a point where RadiusNT would not run for more than 15
minutes before the responses were up in the 15000ms range (backlogged)
At peak load, we probably authenticate 50 users a minute. (Database
contains 6000+ users) I see this problem, however, on the second user to
authenticate (when using debug) [the first user has always been lagged
while RadiusNT inits] When run as a service, I can hear the latency after
about 5 minutes. (hear: relays on 300+ modems clicking at 1-2 second
intervals)
Currently, we are running on text files and all is well. Response times
are in the 10-400ms range. Only problem is that we are putting on 30-50
customers per day, and text files just don't fit that end of the bargain.
(not to mention cutting people off who are late with payments, etc.)
If I missed some info, lemme know and I'll get back asap.
Thanks in advance,
Sam Dibrell, Jr.
System Administrator
South Texas Internet Connections, Inc.