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christianZ
Champion
Champion

Open unofficial storage performance thread

Attention!

Since this thread is getting longer and longer, not to mention the load times, Christian and I decided to close this thread and start a new one.

The new thread is available here:

Oliver Reeh[/i]

[VMware Communities User Moderator|http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-2444][/i]

My idea is to create an open thread with uniform tests whereby the results will be all inofficial and w/o any

warranty.

If anybody shouldn't be agreed with some results then he can make own tests and presents

his/her results too.

I hope this way to classify the different systems and give a "neutral" performance comparison.

Additionally I will mention that the performance is one of many aspects to choose the right system.

The others could be e.g.

\- support quality

\- system management integration

\- distribution

\- self made experiences

\- additional features

\- costs for storage system and infrastructure, etc.

There are examples of IOMETER Tests:

=====================================

\######## TEST NAME: Max Throughput-100%Read

size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

32768,100,100,0,0,1,0,0

\######## TEST NAME: RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

8192,100,65,60,0,1,0,0

\######## TEST NAME: Max Throughput-50%Read

size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

32768,100,50,0,0,1,0,0

\######## TEST NAME: Random-8k-70%Read

size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

8192,100,70,100,0,1,0,0

The global options are:

=====================================

Worker

Worker 1

Worker type

DISK

Default target settings for worker

Number of outstanding IOs,test connection rate,transactions per connection

64,ENABLED,500

Disk maximum size,starting sector

8000000,0

Run time = 5 min

For testing the disk C is configured and the test file (8000000 sectors) will be created by

first running - you need free space on the disk.

The cache size has direct influence on results. By systems with cache over 2GB the test

file should be increased.

LINK TO IOMETER:

Significant results are: Av. Response time, Av. IOS/sek, Av. MB/s

To mention are: what server (vm or physical), Processor number/type; What storage system, How many disks

Here the config file *.icf

\####################################### BEGIN of *.icf

Version 2004.07.30

'TEST SETUP ====================================================================

'Test Description

IO-Test

'Run Time

' hours minutes seconds

0 5 0

'Ramp Up Time (s)

0

'Default Disk Workers to Spawn

NUMBER_OF_CPUS

'Default Network Workers to Spawn

0

'Record Results

ALL

'Worker Cycling

' start step step type

1 5 LINEAR

'Disk Cycling

' start step step type

1 1 LINEAR

'Queue Depth Cycling

' start end step step type

8 128 2 EXPONENTIAL

'Test Type

NORMAL

'END test setup

'RESULTS DISPLAY ===============================================================

'Update Frequency,Update Type

4,WHOLE_TEST

'Bar chart 1 statistic

Total I/Os per Second

'Bar chart 2 statistic

Total MBs per Second

'Bar chart 3 statistic

Average I/O Response Time (ms)

'Bar chart 4 statistic

Maximum I/O Response Time (ms)

'Bar chart 5 statistic

% CPU Utilization (total)

'Bar chart 6 statistic

Total Error Count

'END results display

'ACCESS SPECIFICATIONS =========================================================

'Access specification name,default assignment

Max Throughput-100%Read,ALL

'size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

32768,100,100,0,0,1,0,0

'Access specification name,default assignment

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read,ALL

'size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

8192,100,65,60,0,1,0,0

'Access specification name,default assignment

Max Throughput-50%Read,ALL

'size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

32768,100,50,0,0,1,0,0

'Access specification name,default assignment

Random-8k-70%Read,ALL

'size,% of size,% reads,% random,delay,burst,align,reply

8192,100,70,100,0,1,0,0

'END access specifications

'MANAGER LIST ==================================================================

'Manager ID, manager name

1,PB-W2K3-04

'Manager network address

193.27.20.145

'Worker

Worker 1

'Worker type

DISK

'Default target settings for worker

'Number of outstanding IOs,test connection rate,transactions per connection

64,ENABLED,500

'Disk maximum size,starting sector

8000000,0

'End default target settings for worker

'Assigned access specs

'End assigned access specs

'Target assignments

'Target

C:

'Target type

DISK

'End target

'End target assignments

'End worker

'End manager

'END manager list

Version 2004.07.30

\####################################### ENDE of *.icf

TABLE SAMPLE

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TABLE oF RESULTS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SERVER TYPE: VM or PHYS.

CPU TYPE / NUMBER: VCPU / 1

HOST TYPE: Dell PE6850, 16GB RAM; 4x XEON 51xx, 2,66 GHz, DC

STORAGE TYPE / DISK NUMBER / RAID LEVEL: EQL PS3600 x 1 / 14+2 Disks / R50

##################################################################################

TEST NAME--


Av. Resp. Time ms--Av. IOs/sek---Av. MB/sek----

##################################################################################

Max Throughput-100%Read........__________..........__________.........__________

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read......__________..........__________.........__________

Max Throughput-50%Read..........__________..........__________.........__________

Random-8k-70%Read.................__________..........__________.........__________

EXCEPTIONS: CPU Util.-XX%;

##################################################################################

I hope YOU JOIN IN !

Regards

Christian

A Google Spreadsheet version is here:

Message was edited by:

ken.cline@hp.com to remove ALL CAPS from thread title

Message was edited by:

RDPetruska

Added link to Atamido's Google Spreadsheet

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457 Replies
Mnemonic
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Ok .. Sounds like a plan.. Hope to see SSD's with more run time in the future..

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typera
Contributor
Contributor

Server: IBM x3650, 2 x Intel x5450 3Ghz QC; 28Gb RAM

SAN: IBM DS3200 (SAS) with 6 x 750GB SATA in RAID10 (1Gb Cache

however when upgraded from 512MB tests were not affected.. which was

good)

Tests: Five tests were carried out whilst varying the SAN's

logical drive segment (block) size from 32 through to 512 (max

supported on DS3200). No block alignment was done or any other

performance tuning with either environment.

VMWare ESX 3.5 Update 3

Citrix XenServer Enterprise 5.0.0

SAN Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

SAN Cache

512MB

Block (Segment) size

512

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

512

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max Throughput-100%Read

2.1

20,146.7

629.6

88.5

Max Throughput-100%Read

4.3

14,202.2

443.8

20.4

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

81.9

681.8

5.3

22.7

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

81.3

691.8

5.4

19.7

Max Throughput-50%Read

8.9

6,605.4

206.4

38.3

Max Throughput-50%Read

8.5

6,999.9

218.7

13.9

Random-8k-70%Read

94.1

574.0

4.5

26.2

Random-8k-70%Read

92.5

588.7

4.6

23.1

SAN Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

SAN Cache

512MB

Block (Segment) size

256

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

256

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max Throughput-100%Read

17.0

3,527.8

110.2

23.2

Max Throughput-100%Read

4.3

14,023.4

438.2

21.3

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

246.8

242.5

1.9

14.2

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

82.9

684.2

5.3

18.6

Max Throughput-50%Read

35.4

1,696.7

53.0

19.1

Max Throughput-50%Read

9.0

6,661.1

208.2

14.3

Random-8k-70%Read

331.5

180.7

1.4

14.1

Random-8k-70%Read

94.0

587.4

4.6

21.5

SAN Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

SAN Cache

512MB

Block (Segment) size

128

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

128

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max Throughput-100%Read

17.4

3,443.4

107.6

24.2

Max Throughput-100%Read

3.9

15,616.5

488.0

20.8

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

253.9

236.1

1.8

14.1

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

85.9

660.0

5.2

18.2

Max Throughput-50%Read

35.6

842.2

52.5

19.7

Max Throughput-50%Read

8.8

6,802.0

212.6

14.2

Random-8k-70%Read

334.5

179.1

1.4

13.9

Random-8k-70%Read

93.5

579.6

4.5

24.5

SAN Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

SAN Cache

512MB

Block (Segment) size

64

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

64

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max Throughput-100%Read

17.9

3,345.0

104.5

23.6

Max Throughput-100%Read

4.0

15,077.8

471.2

20.3

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

263.7

226.6

1.8

14.0

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

90.1

627.7

4.9

18.7

Max Throughput-50%Read

35.6

1,682.8

52.6

18.9

Max Throughput-50%Read

8.8

6,792.7

212.3

14.4

Random-8k-70%Read

339.2

176.0

1.4

13.8

Random-8k-70%Read

99.6

551.4

4.3

22.4

SAN Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

SAN Cache

512MB

Block (Segment) size

32

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

32

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max Throughput-100%Read

20.6

2,913.2

91.0

23.0

Max Throughput-100%Read

4.1

14,916.9

466.2

20.2

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

281.8

212.0

1.7

14.2

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

99.2

571.7

4.5

18.4

Max Throughput-50%Read

35.8

1,675.6

52.4

18.7

Max Throughput-50%Read

9.1

6,503.1

203.2

15.8

Random-8k-70%Read

353.7

169.6

1.3

13.3

Random-8k-70%Read

111.3

508.8

4.0

18.6

Rather then adding to this already long thread, I suggest discussion re this specific results please go to http://communities.vmware.com/thread/196031

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

I've just noticed your test results on DS3400 - the numbers are very low - check your configurations!!

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

Thanks for that input Smiley Happy

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Mnemonic
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi, nice to see that kind of results..

Could you just publish the VM configuration in both environments? RAM, OS, Filesystem.

Also.. If you are using Windows Server 2003, it would only be fair to change the SCSI controller to LSI instead of BusLogic.

I Cant remember... Does Citrix use Parallel VIrtualized SCSI Drivers?

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typera
Contributor
Contributor

VM for my tests is Win2003 std server SP2 with current updates, 384MB RAM. For each block size test I created a 200Gb LUN and formatted it NTFS using default NTFS block size.

Win2003 install is vanilla as can be. I also reinstalled vmware tools cleanly just to make sure its all installed correctly.

Changing over to LSI didn't result any major changes:

SAN

Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

LSI

Block

(Segment) size

512

VMFS block size

1MB

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max

Throughput-100%Read

2.6

20,074.4

627.3

81.4

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

82.7

673.6

5.3

22.7

Max

Throughput-50%Read

8.8

6,667.0

208.3

37.0

Random-8k-70%Read

94.3

571.9

4.5

26.1

SAN

Cache

512MB

SCSI Controller

Buslogic

Block

(Segment) size

512

VMFS block size

1MB

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Max

Throughput-100%Read

2.1

20,146.7

629.6

88.5

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

81.9

681.8

5.3

22.7

Max

Throughput-50%Read

8.9

6,605.4

206.4

38.3

Random-8k-70%Read

94.1

574.0

4.5

26.2

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typera
Contributor
Contributor

Just redone the benchmarks under RAID 5 (5 x 750Gb with hot spare):

Based on these results ESX wins for Avg Response times and Xen for CPU, its a draw for IOs and throughput.

Whats interesting though, is that under RAID10 XEN peforms better, wins for pretty much all counters except for 100% read (except cpu)...

Anyone have any idea how Xen can be so unaffected by LUN level block size?

Server

IBM x3650

RAM

28 GB (667)

CPU

2 x Intel X5450

SAN

IBM DS3200 (SAS)

Num Drives

6 x 750GB SATA

RAID Level

RAID5 + 1 Hot Spare

VMWare ESX 3.5 Update 3

*Citrix XenServer

Enterprise 5.0.0*

SAN Cache

1024MB

SCSI Controller

LSI

SAN Cache

1024MB

*Block

(Segment) size*

512

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

512

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

*Max

Throughput-100%Read*

2.4

20,170.9

630.3

84.1

Max Throughput-100%Read

3.1

19,227.3

600.9

19.7

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

149.3

357.8

2.8

24.4

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

153.6

359.2

2.8

21.1

*Max

Throughput-50%Read*

8.8

6,665.6

208.3

37.3

Max Throughput-50%Read

9.1

6,582.3

205.7

13.2

Random-8k-70%Read

171.5

301.2

2.4

27.6

Random-8k-70%Read

166.2

314.3

2.5

26.0

SAN Cache

1024MB

SCSI Controller

LSI

SAN Cache

1024MB

*Block

(Segment) size*

256

VMFS block size

1MB

Block (Segment) size

256

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

Test name

Avg Resp Time ms

Av IOs/sec

Av MB/sec

CPU Utilisation

*Max

Throughput-100%Read*

2.5

20,206.6

631.5

84.6

Max Throughput-100%Read

3.1

19,257.7

601.8

18.7

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

162.3

338.7

2.6

22.5

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

159.4

354.2

2.8

19.1

*Max

Throughput-50%Read*

8.8

6,627.7

207.1

38.1

Max Throughput-50%Read

9.1

6,573.3

205.4

13.8

Random-8k-70%Read

184.6

293.6

2.3

23.8

Random-8k-70%Read

176.6

310.4

2.4

21.5

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typera
Contributor
Contributor

Further update, after realigning partitions under RAID5, its still a tie between ESX and XenServer:

Test name

ESX

XEN

ESX

XEN

ESX

XEN

ESX

XEN

Max Throughput-100%Read

2.4

3.1

20,436.3

19,227.3

638.6

600.9

81.4

19.7

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

152.4

153.6

354.4

359.2

2.8

2.8

23.6

21.1

*Max

Throughput-50%Read*

7.1

9.1

8,385.1

6,582.3

262.0

205.7

41.1

13.2

Random-8k-70%Read

165.7

166.2

309.9

314.3

2.4

2.5

28.3

26.0

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typera
Contributor
Contributor

And here are the final summary of RAID10 and RAID5 tests with ESX vs XenServer:

see attachment.

Cheers,

Max

www.intellectit.com.au

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RParker
Immortal
Immortal

ESX: 3.5 U3 143128

SYSTEM:IBM 3950 M2 / 64GB / Emulex Fiber SAN / Netapp 3070 / 15K SAS

VM: Windows 2003 R2 / 1GB

Access

Specification Name

IOps

Read IOps

Write IOps

MBps

Read MBps

Write MBps

Average Response Time

Max Throughput-100%Read

3844.361848

3844.361848

0

120.136308

120.136308

0

5.735864

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read

2723.538409

1772.493252

951.045157

21.277644

13.847604

7.43004

19.332422

Max Throughput-50%Read

4127.849316

2064.249641

2063.599676

128.995291

64.507801

64.48749

7.096561

Random-8k-70%Read

2155.345519

1509.023551

646.321968

16.838637

11.789246

5.04939

24.746402

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

Thanks for that.

How many disks were used in the aggregate?

What features were on (dedup, thinprovisioning, etc.)

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Mnemonic
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TABLE oF RESULTS

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

SERVER TYPE: Windows 2003 std VM on ESX 3.5.0 Update 3

CPU TYPE / NUMBER: VCPU / 1

HOST TYPE: IBM x3650, 16GB RAM; 2x XEON E5410 2,33 GHz Quad-Core

SAN Type: IBM DS3400 / Disks: 68GB 15k SAS / RAID LEVEL: Raid5 / 8 Disks / QLA 2432 4Gbit FC HBA

##################################################################################

TEST NAME--


Av. Resp. Time ms--Av. IOs/sek---Av. MB/sek----

##################################################################################

Max Throughput-100%Read.......______5___..........___11419__........___357____

RealLife-60%Rand-65%Read..._____66___.........._____726__........_____6____

Max Throughput-50%Read.........______8___..........____7666__........___240____

Random-8k-70%Read................_____78___.........._____704__........_____6____

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

Great, thanks - is that throughput enough for you? I've just tested DS3400 with 6XSAS15k as R10 and saw ca. 1800 ios/sec (by Reallife-test).

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Mnemonic
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I must say it seams to be performing preatty poorly.. I am not sure how much cache is in the controller. I will investigate.

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

by me only 512 MB, the response times were better too - ca. 40 ms

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hicksj
Virtuoso
Virtuoso

I had posted similar numbers a while back on a DS3300. Wasn't very impressive.

http://communities.vmware.com/message/943905#943905

My response times were similar to yours christianZ, but with IO under 500 with the "reallife" test. Of course, I was testing with only 3 drives at the time. I posted non-ESX (physical hardware) specs against the DS3300 and they were consistent with the VM results.

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christianZ
Champion
Champion

Ok when I now compare your results with that from mnemonic and my then I would say the box works poor with R5 config - but not sure here.

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oreeh
Immortal
Immortal

Since this thread is getting longer and longer, not to mention the load times, Christian and I decided to close this thread and start a new one.

The new thread is available here:

Oliver Reeh[/i]

[VMware Communities User Moderator|http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-2444][/i]

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