Test Methodology
Network Storage Configurations |
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Buffalo LinkStation 421DE |
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| CPU | 2.13GHz Intel Atom D2700 (dual-core, 1MB L2 cache) |
1.2GHz Marvell Armada 370 (dual-issue, 256KB L2 cache) |
1.6GHz Marvell 88F6282A0C160 (single-core, 256KB L2 cache) |
0.75GHz PLX NAS 7821 (dual-core, ARM 11) |
1.80GHz Intel Atom D525 (dual-core, 1MB L2 cache) |
| Memory | 1GB DDR3 |
512MB DDR3 |
256MB DDR3 |
256MB DDR2 |
1GB DDR3 |
| Disk drives | 2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ (optional) |
2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ (optional) |
1x 1TB Seagate ST31000528AS (included) |
2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ (optional) |
2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ (optional) |
| RAID mode | RAID 1 |
RAID 1 |
N/A |
RAID 1 |
RAID 1 |
| Network connection | Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
Gigabit Ethernet |
| Firmware | 1.0.8.R2K3 |
1.01-0.53 |
1.40 |
2.10.20121016 |
5.01.02 |
Benchmarks |
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| Iometer v2008.06.18-RC2 File Copy Test (8.83GB) Intel NAS Performance Toolkit v1.7.1 Power Consumption |
Notes
All of our comparison NAS servers are tested using a single Gigabit Ethernet link with Jumbo frames disabled, and are connected to our Intel client machine and network via a Netgear GS108 switch.
Iometer, a familiar benchmark in our test suite, is an I/O subsystem measurement tool. For the purpose of our NAS testing, we set a queue depth of 16 (outstanding I/Os) and run the following tests:
- 64KB transfer, 100% sequential, 100% read
- 64KB transfer, 100% sequential, 100% write
Taking a look at a simple usage scenario, our file copy test involves copying a mixed assortment of files totalling 8.83GB in size from our client to the NAS. The result is recorded in MB/s.
Our third benchmark - the NAS Performance Toolkit, developed by Intel - is a file-system exerciser specifically designed to provide performance comparisons between NAS devices. Intel's utility focuses on user-level performance using real-world workload traces gathered from typical digital home applications such as HD video playback and record. Intel NASPT reproduces the file-system traffic observed in these traces onto a chosen storage solution and records performance in MB/s.
Last but not least, we measure NAS power draw during three states; under load, idle and standby mode if applicable.
