Configuring RAID for Optimal Performance

Optimal RAID Settings Configuring RAID for Optimal Performance
5
3. Optimal RAID Settings
The following table provides a simplified quick reference for RAID settings for achieving optimal
performance depending on the type of application or test. Please refer to the following sections
for more details on the meaning and impact of each setting.
Maximum Sequential Throughput
Under Linux* or Microsoft
Windows* without I/O
queuing
(Including copying files and
using simple tools like
HDSpeed*)
IOmeter* under
Microsoft Windows*
Recommended
settings for most real-
world applications
with sequential +
random storage
access
Strip Size 512K 512K 256K
Read Cache
Policy
Direct I/O Direct I/O Direct I/O
Read Ahead
Policy
Adaptive Read Ahead No Read Ahead
Adaptive
Read Ahead
Write Cache
Policy
Write Back
RAID 0/10: Write Thru
RAID 1/5/6/50/60: Write Back
Write Back
Disk Cache
Policy**
Enabled Enabled Disabled
Virtual Drive
Initialization
Full Initialization
Completed
Full Initialization
Completed
Full Initialization
Completed
Consistency
Check
Disabled Disabled Scheduled
Patrol Read Disabled Disabled Scheduled
Note: Enabling disk cache in Write-Back mode provides little or no performance improvement,
while the risk of data loss due to power failure increases. See Section 4.2 for more information.