Review: Armari BrontaStor 822R-E4

by Parm Mann on 6 August 2013, 10:00

Tags: Armari

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Test Methodology

Network Storage Configurations

 
Armari BrontaStor 822R-E4
CPU
3.30GHz Intel Xeon E3-1230 v3 (quad-core, 8MB cache)
1.30GHz Marvell Armada CP (dual-core)
2.00GHz Marvell 6282 (single-core)
2.13GHz Intel Atom D2700 (dual-core, 1MB cache)
1.86GHz Intel Atom D2550 (dual-core, 1MB cache)
1.80GHz Intel Atom D525 (dual-core, 1MB cache)
Memory
16GB DDR3 ECC
512MB DDR3
1GB DDR3
1GB DDR3
2GB DDR3
2GB DDR3
Disk drives
8 x 3TB Seagate Constellation ST3000NC002 (included)
4x 1TB Seagate Barracuda ST1000DM003 (included)
4x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ
(optional)
4x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ
(optional)
5x 1TB Samsung HD103SJ
(optional)
4x 4TB Hitachi HDS5C4040ALE630
(included)
RAID mode
RAID 5
RAID 5
RAID 5
RAID 5
RAID 5
RAID 5
Network connection
Gigabit Ethernet / Intel 10 Gigabit
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
Firmware
Open-E DSS V6 Single Node (6.0up98.8801.7337)
3.3.4.29856
4.0.0 Build 20130411
3.6.0 Build 0220T
2.03.08
01.05.08.31

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. The Armari BrontaStor 822R-E4 is also tested using a direct Intel 10 Gigabit connection.

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
  • 1MB transfer, 100% sequential, 100% read

Taking a look at a basic usage scenario, our file copy test involves moving 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.