Technical issues on Linux

[albert at ccs.neu.edu (Albert Cahalan)]

> I'm looking for hints on fixing any of three technical problems
> associated with managing high-volume Linux servers...

I think you are looking in the wrong place.

> 1)  The TCP connect() system call apparently never times out in current
>   versions of Linux.  This caused mail server crashes here during the AOL
>   outage Tuesday (hundreds of sendmail processes building up, waiting
>   indefinitely for the AOL server to come back up).

Tell Alan Cox, or linux-kernel at vger.rutgers.edu.

> 2)  Packet fragmentation problems lead to frequent complaints that the
>   web pages can't be viewed without glitches (this includes www.bcs.org).

Tell Alan Cox, or linux-kernel at vger.rutgers.edu.

> 3)  I notice syslogd taking up an inordinate amount of processor time,
>   causing slowdowns in POP3 email access and logins (ftp, etc).  Sometimes
>   it takes upwards of a minute for an item to get logged, if a lot of
>   system activity is taking place, during which the syslogd process (on a
>   P-133, mind you) is racking up 80% or more of CPU usage.

You need the person who runs the Linux network at some cancer
hospital. Dr. W... maybe.