Multi-Client Access - NAS Environment

We configured three of the HGST Deskstar NAS drives in a RAID-5 volume in the QNAP TS-EC1279U-SAS-RP. A CIFS share in the volume was subject to some IOMeter tests with access from up to 25 VMs simultaneously. The following four graphs show the total available bandwidth and the average response time while being subject to different types of workloads through IOMeter. IOMeter also reports various other metrics of interest such as maximum response time, read and write IOPS, separate read and write bandwidth figures etc. Some of the interesting aspects from our IOMeter benchmarking run are available here.

HGST Deskstar NAS Multi-Client CIFS Performance - 100% Sequential Reads


 

HGST Deskstar NAS Multi-Client CIFS Performance - Max Throughput - 50% Sequential Reads


 

HGST Deskstar NAS Multi-Client CIFS Performance - Random 8K - 70% Reads


 

HGST Deskstar NAS Multi-Client CIFS Performance - Real Life - 60% Random 65% Reads


 

We see that the sequential accesses are still limited by the network link, but, this time, on the NAS side. On the other hand, our random access tests show markedly better performance for drives such as the HGST Deskstar NAS. In particular, response times in the random workloads is almost 5x better over the WD Red when the disks are subject to simultaneous accesses from a large number of clients. Against drives such as the Seagate Enterprise Capacity v4 or the Enterprise NAS HDD, the Deskstar NAS does manage to hold its own. Anyhow, the target market for those drives (and the firmware optimizations) are different enough to not make a big case out of the observed performance differences.

Single Client Access - NAS Benchmarks RAID-5 Benchmarking - Miscellaneous Aspects
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  • Guspaz - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    $300 for a 6TB drive doesn't seem very cost-effective when 8TB drives sell for $260, and 4TB drives sell for $140. Heck, even the 4TB HGST DeskStar NAS sells for only $165. This isn't really a fault with the HGST drive specifically (since other 6TB drives aren't any cheaper), but more a fault with the 6TB capacity point.

    Of course, the 8TB drive in question is using SMR, and so ought to be rather slow for writes, but when you've got a bunch of them in a server with some SSDs for caching, it shouldn't be so bad.
  • insz - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Can you please provide a link to an 8TB drive for $260?
  • Dreamwalker - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Here in EU you can get the Seagate Archive 8TB for ~226EUR (275USD with vat). It targets cloud/cold storage market but I think it should be great for a HTPC too...
    https://geizhals.at/eu/seagate-archive-hdd-v2-8tb-...
  • patrioteagle07 - Tuesday, January 6, 2015 - link

    You do not want that drive... it is cheap because it is SMR. SMR is for COLD storage not NAS.
  • BeAi - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link

    Hi there, we are Premium Reseller of HGST, about these disks i could give some more inputs... First, the Seagate is a SMR Disk, only good for Backupszenarios, further they have only 3 years warranty.
    The HGST 8TB Disk is not a SMR Disk, HGST has got the 10 TB SMR Disk for Backupsolutions. Than the HGST Disk have got 5 Years warranty, for business solutions is that an argument. Last but not least, HGST has released on all SAS3 Disk the Media Caching Technologie, the disk are probably up to 3 times faster than other disk on the market. We have tested disks in our Lab, with a 1.2TB media caching 10k Disk, it will be faster than a 15k normal 2,5 inc disk. For more information, feel free to visit our online Shop: shop.storagespace.ch Kind Regards.
  • BeAi - Wednesday, January 7, 2015 - link

    Sorry i have forget that the HGST 8TB also have the Helium 8 Technologie, its also a He8 Plate, the Seagate havent got helium inside...
    Benefit of HGST Helium: up to 50% less energy cost, and less heat from the plate... If you wanna have an offer or more informations: info@storagespace.ch
  • takeshi7 - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    I think he's citing this article. That $260/8TB is bulk pricing for buying 20 drives it looks like.
    http://www.extremetech.com/computing/195543-seagat...
  • nandnandnand - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    The $260 8 TB drive isn't out yet. But it is a good thing
  • realwarder - Friday, December 26, 2014 - link

    Having a higher performance 6TB drive now is worth the extra money in the time saved over upgrading a 4TB drive later. It may be twice the price, but in $ it's not really much compared to reworking an entire setup later to add storage (unless you have a 8+ disk array with lots of room to grow)
  • hlmcompany - Tuesday, December 23, 2014 - link

    Regardless of the capacity, this HGST drive is in the same category as a WD Red Pro, NOT a WD Red.

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