Xen users - Oct 2009 - Question re Debian, xen and performance problems

Hello,

I''ve been handed down a working configuration of (amongst others) an  
Intel quadcore server running a dom-0 with 4 domU''s (each restricted  
to 1 cpu). They all run Debian etch and xen 3.0.3 (as far as I can  
tell). I''m familiar with the concept of virtualization, but
haven''t
actually used it in production, like this server is.
Each domU is used for a single purpose: converting large datafiles  
from a proprietary format to a MySQL database. Software and MySQL  
server are installed ''local'' to the domU.

Recently users doing the conversion start complaining that the  
conversions take much longer than before, sometimes 300% or more than  
e.g. a few months ago when the server was configured.

When a conversion is running in xen top I can see a cpu use of around  
100%.
I have no idea where to start. I''m considering upgrading both the  
debian and the xen versions, but that means I have to take the machine  
offline and spend quite some time on the upgrade process (server is  
colocated elsewhere). Both are not really an option.

What I''m looking for here is:
- pointers to possible causes of the delays.
- answers/insights to the benefits of these upgrades.

Thanks.

Helma

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