Multi-Client Access - NAS Environment

We configured three of the WD Red Pro 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.

WD Red Pro Multi-Client CIFS Performance - 100% Sequential Reads

 

WD Red Pro Multi-Client CIFS Performance - Max Throughput - 50% Sequential Reads

 

WD Red Pro Multi-Client CIFS Performance - Random 8K - 70% Reads

 

WD Red Pro 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. The 100% sequential reads show similar results for all the drives. However, the WD Red Pro shows the best stability under stress from multiple clients for the 50% sequential reads / 50% sequential writes test. On the other hand, the Random 8K 70% reads sequence for the WD Red Pro show better numbers compared to the WD Red, but can't compete with the numbers from the other 6 TB drives. The 60% Random / 65% Reads sequence shows the WD Red Pro in better light compared to the WD Red and the HGST Deskstar NAS, but the other drives show consistently better numbers.

Single Client Access - NAS Benchmarks RAID-5 Benchmarking - Miscellaneous Aspects
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  • Impulses - Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - link

    My 75GB 75GXP failed slowly, I dunno if it was related to the main source of failure everyone was seeing... It made for some interesting surprises, like waking up to an empty Desktop because the directory had been mysteriously renamed Desotop (amazingly everything within was intact).
  • MHz Tweaker - Wednesday, September 9, 2015 - link

    Yes, I think I remember those GXP-Deathstars "click click clickety click"
  • Samus - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link

    I prefer HGST drives, but really just the older ones like the 2TB and 3TB 5400RPM Deskstar Coolspins. They were nearly as fast as most 7200RPM drives of the day.

    The He6 is just too expensive, although they seem to be very reliable and that was the real concern at the beginning for that technology.

    And until recently, Hitachi/HGST didn't have a 6TB non-Helium model available. They are clearly behind Seagate and WD on density, but ahead of them on reliability. Sometimes keeping it old-school is the best path. Look at Mazda with Skyactive. No turbo charging, no fancy dual-clutch or CVT transmissions, just a modern lightweight engine with as much friction removed as possible mated to a tweaked slushbox and it still beats every single competitor in fuel economy, aside from Hybrids, while also being among the few vehicles manufactures that have not had transmission or engine related recalls.
  • Adul - Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - link

    Not to mention taht they are great to drive cards :)
  • Adul - Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - link

    Cars! should not reply from phone.
  • yeeeeman - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link

    When do these ancient objects go extinct? And why didn't you include at least an ssd for comparison?
  • damianrobertjones - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link

    When you and I can afford to buy a 6TB SSD version. That probably means when we're dead.
  • FunBunny2 - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link

    I wonder if it's possible to stuff 6TB of NAND, at any node size, into 2.5" form factor?
  • KateH - Monday, September 7, 2015 - link

    Yes.

    http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/08/samsung-unv...
  • FunBunny2 - Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - link

    Zoweeeeee.

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