Intel Server RAID Q1 2009 boot camp training lab workbook

Intel

Server RAID Boot Camp Training Q1 2009

Lab 1: Correct Ways of Measuring RAID Performance

Introduction

It is a common mistake to measure RAID performance using wrong tools or with wrong test settings.

Results of such tests can be very misleading.

When measuring the RAID performance, it is important to understand how the measurement tool

works, the capabilities of the tool, and any limitations. It is good to avoid using a tool with unknown

or unclear data access patterns, which can make the results difficult to interpret.

In this lab, we demonstrate importance of access pattern characteristics such as random versus

sequential, transfer block size, and I/O queuing. We also demonstrate how to use IOmeter – the most

popular and recognized performance measurement tool among RAID, storage system, and HDD

vendors.

Lab Objectives

 Understand the difference between sequential and random performance

 Understand the impact of I/O queue depth

 Understand the impact of transfer block size

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