topic Performance issue in StoreEver Tape Storage

Performance issue

R K Gaur — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 03:11:45 GMT

Hi, Team
I have a 6060 Library with two lto3 drive. It's default block size 32kbps, can i change it with 64kbps. If yes, then tell me how can i do it.

Nots:- All the driver & firmware is updated.

thanks & regards
rakesh kumar

Re: Performance issue

Patrick Terlisten — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 08:03:11 GMT

Hello Rakesh,

which backupsoftware do you use? You can change the block size in the configuration of you backup software. If you're using Data Protector, take a look under "Devices und Media" in the advanced options of the tape drivces. For LTO drives you should use a block size of 256 KB.

Best regards,
Patrick

Re: Performance issue

Alessandro Bocchino — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:54:55 GMT

Maximum block size depends also on the operating system I/O subsystem and driver.

On HP-UX and generally speaking on Unix you can use 256KB, it works with good performance.

On Windows you can have troubles setting more than 64KB, sometimes you need to change
MaximumSGList registry key which only applies to SCSIPORT drivers. If your HBA is using STORPORT drivers you don't have to mind about maximumsglist. BUT if you have Win2003 SP1 and STORPORT you need a hotfix for tape.sys from Microsoft to allow windows tape.sys to write larger i/o than 64KB.

Be careful not to mix different settings for the same drive on different systems... you have to format the tape to change the blocksize

Best regards, Alessandro Bocchino
http://www.risolve.com

Re: Performance issue

Patrick Terlisten — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 04:33:25 GMT

Hello,

thanks for that additional information. The tape.sys fix is described in KB916048.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916048/en-us

Best regards,
Patrick