Poor / Slow esxRanger/Migrate/Copy performance

[Stuman333]

Hi Guys,

We have 3 ESX 3.0.1 32039 Servers,

1. HP Prolaint DL380 G4p 2 x 3Ghz Xeons, 4GB RAM, Smart Array 6404 Controller with 512 MB Cache, 6 x 1Gpbs Nics.

esxRanger Performace 10 MB/s

2. HP Proliant DL380 G5 2 x Dual Core 2.66 Ghz Xeon 12GB RAM, Smart Aray P400 Controller 256 MB Cache, 6 x 1Gpbs Nics.

esxRanger Performace 10 MB/s

3. HP Proliant DL380 G5 2 x Quad Core 2.00 Ghz Xeon 16GB RAM, Smart Aray P400 Controller 256 MB Cache, 6 x 1Gpbs Nics.

esxRanger Performace 1 MB/s

I have tested a SecureFX copy (SFTP) to /var/updates and performance is fine. it's only when esxRangering, copying to /vmfs/...... or migrating a machine via VC.

I'm assuming this must be some kind of IO Throttle built in to ESX but the other 2 boxes don't suffer this performance problem.

All installs are standard, no advanced settings are different.

I have run esxtop with the following results

cpu average load: is less than 1%

WRITES/s

70 ish

My "Fast" Boxes run at about 600 - 700 WRITES/s

Has anyone else experienced these kind of performace issues ?

Cheers

[davidbarclay]

It's not something simple like a dodgy patch lead?

Dave

[Stuman333]

Na, not networking related, I've tested the networking, patching in other machines and they get good speed.

I did a copy from /var/updates to /vmfs on the same machine and that was slow, Really Slow. 1 MB/s.

It's realy strange because on a virtually identical machine we have nearly 10 times the performace.

[BenConrad · Accepted solution]

Do you have the BBWC module installed and enabled on the slow server?

Maybe you might want to reseat all storage components (drives,cables,cards,etc) as well....

Ben

[Stuman333]

Yep ben your right,

I was under the impression from the guy who brought the first (Fast) server that we had did not get BBWC modules installed. but on friday i whipped the top off and there it was !

The fast server does have a BBWC Module.

Needless to say i have purchased a BBWC Module for the new (Slow) Server.

Cheers guys for all responses.