Test Methodology
Network Storage Configurations | 
    |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thecus N2310  | 
      |||||||
| 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)  | 
      1.6GHz Marvell (spec. TBC)  | 
      0.75GHz PLX NAS 7821 (dual-core, ARM 11)  | 
      0.80GHz APM 86491  SoC (single-core, 256KB L2 cache)  | 
      1.60GHz Intel Atom CE5335 (dual-core)  | 
    
| Memory | 1GB DDR3  | 
      512MB DDR3  | 
      256MB DDR3  | 
      512MB DDR3  | 
      256MB DDR2  | 
      512MB DDR3  | 
      2GB 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)  | 
      2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ  (optional)  | 
      2x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ  (optional)  | 
    
| RAID mode | RAID 1  | 
      RAID 1  | 
      N/A  | 
      RAID 1  | 
      RAID 1  | 
      RAID 1  | 
      RAID 1  | 
    
| Network connection | Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
      Gigabit Ethernet  | 
    
| Firmware | 1.0.8.R2K3  | 
      1.01-0.53  | 
      1.40  | 
      4.1.0.20131104  | 
      2.10.20121016  | 
      OS6.build_677  | 
      OS6.build_205  | 
    
Benchmarks | 
    
|---|
| 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.
