insight competition benchmarking storage systems

Insight Competition

Benchmarking Storage Systems

Benchmarking – Overview

DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array Dual Controller

(1GB Cache/Controller) 6x 750GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 6x 146GB SAS 15k U/Min

HP – MSA 20xx Family Dual Controller

(1GB Cache/Controller) 3x 500GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 3x 750GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 6x 146GB SAS 15k U/Min

IBM System Storage DS3400 Dual Controller

(512MB Cache/Controller) 3x 500GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 3x 750GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 6x 73GB SAS 15k U/Min

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family Dual Controller

(1GB Cache/Controller) 6x 500GB SATA 7,2k U/Min 6x 73GB SAS 15k U/Min

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Synecon Hardware Benchmarking

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Benchmarking – Scenario

First Impression Packaging/content Completeness Documentation Finish

Materials Predetermined breaking points?

Use Hardware

Discfitting Accessability (tool less?)

Software Installation process (intuitional menu

navigation ,…) Initiation and GUI (ergonomics, menu

navigation,…) Pre installed software

Equipping Current consumption Software (features) Guarantee / support Type(s) of hard discs Upgrading possibilities

Number of discs Capacity of discs

Configuration Controller configuration

(active/active, active/passive) available RAID level HotSpare configuration Online extension / migration LUN size

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Benchmarking – Performance

Measurement of throughput and I/O power At various RAID levels

(min. RAID1 and RAID5)

Comparison of SAS/SATA arrays Measures done:

with different operating systems Windows / Linux

at parallel access on multiple hosts while rebuilding the HotSpare disc

Measuring with IOMeter Endurance of the HotSpare rebuild

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Benchmarking – Surrounding

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FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family HP MSA20xx Family

DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – First Impression

Packaging is effective and easy to open

Essentials are fully enclosed Discs Controllers Power supplies Installation kit

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DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – Installationguide, Documentation

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Assembling poster yes

General documentation

digital with documentation-CD

Reference book System manual, installation manual, security guide

Other EMV pack included

Download driverand reference books

no

Rating everything you need is included but unfortunately no downloadlink for driver updates

DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – Use

Intuitional fitting of components

Power supplies and controllers can be mounted without tools

Altogether the system requires 3U in the rack

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Standby-Power supply isseperately installed inside the rack

Traction relief

Reverse AX4-5

DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – Controller Insight

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Cooling element for CPU and

chip set

Memory

Adjustmentwithout tooling

DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – Pro and Contra (Extract)

Pro: Support of five diskshelfs with all in all 45 TB storage capacity Integrated snapshot function

Contra: No RAID 6 available No RAID 10 available

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DELL™ AX4-5 (EMC) Storage Array – Summary

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- Consequence No RAID 6 and RAID 10 possible Lower system stability at huge hard drive

configurations. No 1 TB SATA hard drive support Lower total capacity and scalability Additional standby power supply Protection of the controller incl. cache by the

standby power supply with battery package requires one additional rack unit.

The usage oft he first four hard disks is restricted Reduction of useability, lost xx TB of storage capacity

+ Consequence Support of 5 diskshelfs with all in all 45 TB storage capacity.

The system is expandable and scalable flexibly. Additionaly the administration processes are simplified as only one administerial interface has to be used.

Possibility to combine SAS und SATA hard drives The combination of variable interfaces displays the base for the illustration of an ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) -Process with different storage categories.

Integrated snapshot function Faster backup times by creating and using snap shots

Redundant power supplies, fans, controllers, etc. Avoidance of Single Point of Failure Support of many operating systems Because of an expanded operating system

support the storage system is flexible and able to adopt different conditions.

MSA 20xx Family

HP Storage Works MSA 2012i iSCSI SAN Array Standard iSCSI Controller

HP Storage Works MSA 2012fc FC SAN Array Standard FC Controller

Announced: HP MSA 2012sa Host Connection via SAS

HP Storage Works MSA 2212fc FC SAN Array Enhanced FC Controller

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HP MSA 20xx Family – First Impression


Essentials are fully enclosed Discs Controllers Power supplies Installation kit

Missing installation documentation of the Rack

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HP MSA 20xx – Installationguide, Documentation

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Assembling poster only digital / PDF-Download

General Documentation

digital with installation-CD

Reference book no

Other Positioning device for rack assembly


www.hp.com/suport/manuals

Rating Requires a lot of one’s own initiative (downloads);

the quick installation guide is not that self-explanatory as you might have expected

HP MSA 20xx – Use

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Fit-up aid


Elaborate installation of the Rack Fit-up aid requested Installation rails must be

screwed to the device and to the second reverse

HP MSA 20xx – Controller Insight

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Cooling element forCPU andchip set

Condenser pack and flashcard

HP MSA 20xx – Pro and Contra (Extract)

Pro: Cache is protected with flash storage

Contra: Snapshot function only optional, further investments are requested

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HP MSA 20xx Family – Summary

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- Consequence

Snapshot function only optional If snapshots are used, e.g. for backup processes, further investments are requested.

Rack installationkit requires „fit-up aids“ Complex and time consuming rack installation

For installation or removing components a screwdriver is required

Heightended effort of installion an removal

+ Consequence

Possisbility to combine SAS and SATA hard drives The basis for the illustration of an ILM (Informations Lifecycle Management ) with different storage categories is the combination of variable interfaces.

Cache is protected with flash storage In case of power breakdown only short „loading times“ (1 min.), low maintenance level

Redundant power supplies, fans, controllers, etc. Avoidance of single point of failure

IBM System Storage DS3400 – First Impression


Essentials are fully enclosed Discs Controllers Power supplies Installationkit

A lot of waste

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IBM System Storage DS3400 – Installationguide, Documentation

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digital with documentation-CD and support-CD

Reference book System manual, security guide


www.ibm.com/server/storage/support

Rating Too much dokumentation – lost of clarity (because of the much packaging)

IBM System Storage DS3400 – Use

Smart installation, no tools requested

Attention whilst installing! Mechanism adjusts wrong way around!!

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Smart installation

IBM System Storage DS3400 – Controller Insight

Single controller in the test without a protective cover!

Risk of damage to the electronic during setup!

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Cooling elementfor CPU

andchip set

Memorymodule

Battery pack

IBM System Storage DS3400 – Pro and Contra (Extract)

Pro: Components can be installed and removed quickly without tools

Contra: Cache per controller by default only 512 MB (1 GB optional) Controller can be set wrong, which might cause a difficult failure

detection

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IBM System Storage DS3400 – Summary

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- Consequence No RAID 6 possible Lower system stability at large hard drive

configurations. Snapshot function only optional If snapshots are used, e.g. for backup processes

additional investments are necessary. Cache per controller by default only 512 MB (1 GB optional)

Less Data throughput at various synchronous writing and reading operations. Therefore slower system.

Controller can be set wrong Controller doesn‘t work, difficult analysis of mistakes as interlock still catches.

Limited administrability No software independent configuration (via web GUI or command line interface) possible.

+ Consequence Support of 4 diskshelfs with all in all 48 TB storage capacity.

Possibility to expand the system. Therefore a long term investment.

Possiblity to combine SAS and SATA hard discs The combination of variable interfaces displays the base for the illustration of an ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) -process with different storage categories.

Components can be installed and removed quickly without tools

Less effort e.g. while installing the Rack or in case of a service circumstance.

Redundant power supplies, fans, controllers, etc. Avoidance of single point of failure

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family

FSC FibreCAT SX80 iSCSI iSCSI RAID Storage System Standard iSCSI Controller

FSC FibreCAT SX80 FC RAID Storage System Standard FC Controller

FSC FibreCAT SX88 FC RAID Storage System Enhanced FC Controller

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FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – First Impression

Packagng is effective and easy to open

Essentials are fully enclosed Discs Controllers Power supplies Installationkit Ancle for installing the

FSC-Racks

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FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – Installationguide, Documentation

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digital with documentation-CD

Reference book Installation manual, security guide, quick installation guide in 6 languages

Other Positioning device for rack assembly


http://support.fujitsu-siemens.com/com/suport/index.html

Rating Detailed and well aranged

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – Use


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Frontview

Reverse

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – Controller Insight

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Cooling elementfor CPU and

chip set

Condenser pack and flashcard

Is in charge for a backup in case of a power breakdownDoes not matter how long the power breakdown takes

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – Pro and Contra (Extract)

Pro: Support of five diskshelfs with all in all 56 TB storage capacity Cache is protected with flash storage Integrated snapshot function (four pieces)

Contra: Four unused hard disk slots at maximum scale

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FSC FibreCAT SX8x Family – Summary

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- Consequence For installation or removing components a screwdriver is required

Heightended effort of installion an removal

4 unused hard disk slots at maximum scale Not all available Diskslots can be used + Consequence Support of 5 diskshelfs with all in all 56 TB storage capacity.

Possibility to expand the system. Therefore a long term investment.

Integrated snapshot function (four pieces) The creation and usage of four snapshots is integrated. Hence faster backup times.

Ancle for installing the rack into FSC-racks is included by default

No additional effort while ordering and installing the rack.

Redundant power supplies, fans, controllers, etc. Avoidance of Single Point of Failure Possibility to combine SAS and SATA hard drives The combination of variable interfaces displays

the base for the illustration of an ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) -process with different storage categories.

Support of all RAID levels Cache is protected with flash storage and condenser pack

The battery does not have to be charged after a power breakdown, low maintenanceintensely.

Comparable or Identical?

Introduction on the market 2008

Snapshot function optional (additional costs)

4 discshelfs till max. 48TB Rack installation kit

requested „Fit-up aid“

Introduction on the market 2006

Integrated snapshot function (4 Pieces – without extra costs)

5 discshelfs till max. 56TB Smart rack installation with

„click“ kit

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MSA20xx-Family from HP is a similar construction as the SX8x-Family from FSC

Most important differences

SAS Disks RAID5 – Measuring with Fileserver Profile

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IBM DS3400

SAS Disks RAID5 – Measuring of Data Throughput

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SAS Disks RAID5 – Measuring with Data Base Profile

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SAS Disks RAID5 – Measuring with Exchange Profile

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SAS Disks RAID5 – IO Measuring

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FSC FibreCAT SX8x

Qualification - useability for diffrent profiles

Database 67% reads , 33% writes with 4.096 Byte Blocksize and only random disk access

Particular applicable: FSC SX8x, HP MSA 20xx applicable: IBM DS 3400 Limited applicable: DELL AX4

Exchange 60% reads, 40% writes with 4.096 Byte Blocksize and about 80% random disk access

Particular applicable : FSC SX8x, HP MSA 20xx, IBM DS3400 Limited applicable : DELL AX4

Fileserve 80% reads, 20% writes with diffrent Blocksize and only random disk access

Particular applicable : FSC SX8x, HP MSA 20xx, IBM DS3400, DELL AX4

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Useability (under the terms of the benchmarking)

DatabaseDatabase ExchangeExchange FileserveFileserve

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Qualification - result

FSC FibreCAT SX8x Consistently good perfomance data Applicable for all tested implementation

HP MSA 20xx Consistently good perfomance data Applicable for all tested implementation

IBM DS3400 Average performance data for databases and Exchange servers Good performance data for Fileserver implementation

DELL AX4 Worst performance data at all testet profiles, although all Systems are

nearly the same assembling Especial limited applicable for database implementation

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION


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insight competition benchmarking storage systems

Documents

synecon hardware benchmarking

gb sata

gb cachecontroller

gb sas

benchmarking scenario

benchmarking overview

emc storage array pro

emc storage array summary