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ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

 
Hadi Sukirman
Frequent Advisor

ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Just a brief question: What is the average SCSI performance to be expected for the following config:
ML370 G3, 18.2 GB 15k SCSI320 HDD using the built in SCSI controller, W2k Server SP3
We have a average performance of 15 MB/s. Nothing else is connected to the SCSI bus. Drives are not fragmented. No other services running. Seems to be quite slow to us. Has anyone same or different experiences?
Alon-alon asal kelakon...
15 REPLIES 15
Sunil Jerath
Honored Contributor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hello Hadi,
That is definitely a slow performance for the onboard SCSI controller. Have you tried updating the bios?? Please apply the latest support pack as well. Here is the link which has all the updates for your server:

http://h18007.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/20_4307.html

Regards,
Hadi Sukirman
Frequent Advisor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Ok we updated the Bios (we are now at Compaq System Rom 2003.10.31) and we are running Support Pack 6.40 A. I tried copying two big image files (together ca. 2.2 GB) and it took some 130 s. When our calculation is correct we have an average data performance of ca. 16 MB/s.
We are copying from one local disk to another - both 18.2 GB 15k SCSI320 HDD but both connected to the same SCSI channel.
Is using the second available channel a solution or should we look somewhere else for the problem?
Alon-alon asal kelakon...
Hadi Sukirman
Frequent Advisor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Are there any settings that we overlooked?
Alon-alon asal kelakon...
Sunil Jerath
Honored Contributor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hello Hadi,
Have you tried swapping the cable from one channel to the other?? If not then give that a shot and see if this does make a difference in the transfer rate.

Regards,
Sunil Jerath
Honored Contributor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hello Hadi,
Just a quick thought. Have you tried by replacing the SCSI cable?? If not then please do.

Thanks,
Hadi Sukirman
Frequent Advisor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Well we could take the server offline in the evening but just a thought from us: We have the very same problem on TWO servers. Both ML370 G3 - both purchased this year. One is a W2k file server the other a W2k Sql2k server. The only difference is that the file server has 36 GB HDDs and the SQL has 18 GB HDDs in the internal bay. (Additionaly we updated the BIOS only on the SQL)
We stopped the SQL service when we copied the images and we made the very same test on the file server. Both tests were done when the network was down.
BTW, we have a drive array connected (RA4100 via FireWire) but its performance is very slow also. Max. reading perfomance is at 17 MB/s and writing is at 7 MB/s. Is there maybe a conflict between these components (BOTH servers access the very same RAID array)?
Alon-alon asal kelakon...
Sunil Jerath
Honored Contributor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hello Hadi,
The only way to check about the conflict due to firewire would be by removing it temporarily and give it a try. What else do you have installed in the system?? I mean hardware point of view.

Regards,
Hadi Sukirman
Frequent Advisor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hi Sunil,
There is not much more installed in the servers. The file server has two tape drives installed but they are on the second channel of the internal SQL bus - so these should not affect the performance of the first channel, right? The only thing the two servers have in common - hardware-wise - is the RAID array. But the two fire wire controllers are in two different slots (in one server in slot 1 in the other in slot 6).
The fire wire controllers are PCI 66 MHz but the slots in the G3 are PCI-X (100 MHz) but this should also not affect the perfomance right?
Greetings,
Hadi
Alon-alon asal kelakon...
Sunil Jerath
Honored Contributor

Re: ML370 G3 Expected int. SCSI Performance

Hello Hadi,
I understand this should not affect the performance. Since the firewire controllers have not been tested in our environment therefore, it's hard for me to be 100% sure. The best way to find the results would be to down the server and remove the 3rd party out of the picture completely. I would suggest removing the software as well. Thereafter, check the performance.

Regards,