Poor Disk Performance - DL380p Gen8

[Unilink]

Hello

I'm hoping someone might have seen this before and be able to help me.

I've recently installed Windows 2012 R2 on a new Proliant DL380p Gen8 server.

The server has 2x arrays with 3x 300 SAS HDDs in one of the arrays (RAID 1 with a hotspare) and 3x 1Tb SATA drives in another array with the same config.

Disk peformance on both arrays is slow.

File copy speeds don't go above 5MB sec.

I've tried firmware updates and driver updates but am unable to get it to perform.

I've also run tests using 'PerformanceTest' and the speeds are low.  (see attached)

If I run the same tests on another Windows 2012 R2 server running on a considerably older IBM xSeries 3250 M3, the results are fine.

To add something else into the mix, I've another server (Proliant DL360e Gen8) experienceing exactly the same issue but with even worse disk performance results.

Any help will be greatefully received.

Thanks in advance

Richard

[Jimmy Vance]

What array controllers and cache modules are installed in the two server you are working with?

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Hi Jimmy

I've realised I made a typo earlier, the the DL360e is actually a DL360p, apologies.

They are both using the default Smart Array P420i/ZM that came with the machines.

I'm not sure how to check what cache module I'm using.  I've checked the Controller Settings and the 'Phyiscal Drive Write Cache State' is set to disabled.  Is that what you're referring to?

Thanks

Richard

[Unilink]

Ah, wait...

I've found the information within the Licence Manager.

There is no cache module installed.

[Jimmy Vance · Accepted solution]

Installing a cache module will improve performance. This paper is a good reference document for Smart Array controllers

Technical paper

HP Smart Array Controller technology

http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/getpdf.aspx/4AA5-4124ENW.pdf?ver=1.0

[Unilink]

OK, thanks for your advice.

[Unilink]

Sorry, I meant to ask.

Do I need anything other than than FBWC module, i.e. software or licence key?

[Jimmy Vance]

No, just the FBWC module