Qnap TS-509 New Firmware performance & bug report

[Dennis Wood]

On the eSATA issue, I basically reset everything and reconnected the drive. This time, a 483GB backup to the eSATA drive did complete with no errors. The write speed to this drive was roughly 33MB/s which is as good as we've tested with the eSATA drive on any of our fast workstations. This is good.

You're right on the load testing. Using two Vista SP1 workstations, both with RAID 0 arrays (3 drives each) is a fairly extreme test...and both use teamed network connections to a teamed NAS unit. In other words, to be fair, we're loading it as much as anyone conceivably could.

Js, that disk tool is pretty misleading...although OK as a relative tool. In our testing with the NAS in its load balancing network mode, the disk benchmark are way off mark, and even Iozone is reported speeds about 20% less than we're actually measuring. You can expect (using Vista SP1 with a local RAID 0) 50MB/s write rates and about 91MB/s read rates using the NAS on an LACL capable switch and dual LAN workstation. Remarkable numbers for a RAID 5 unit.

To my knowledge this is the only NAS unit out there in this price range that does load balancing...and it works. Yes, there's some code tweaks, but the QNAP folks will figure that out in short order.

 

[js.opdebeeck]

Hi just for info

Here are the IOZONE Response,

From XP SP3 on DELL GX620 2 GB Ram

iozone.exe -Rab output.xls -i 0 -i 1 -+u -f z:\test.ioz -q 64k -n 32M -g 1G -z

3 Disks Sam Spinpoint F1 750 GB / Raid 5

----
Before

READ

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64&stc=1&d=1221838863

Write

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=66&stc=1&d=1221838878

----
and after

Read

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=63&stc=1&d=1221838822


Write

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=65&stc=1&d=1221838870

 

[Dennis Wood]

Js, much better with those graphs. The only thing I would suggest is using this command line:

iozone.exe -Rab output.xls -i 0 -i 1 -+u -f z:\test.ioz -q 64k -y64 -n 32M -g 4G -z

The 4G parameter gets beyond your workstation and NAS cache, therefore measuring actual disk performance. One thing we're finding is that iozone isn't doing a good job with LACL configured connections. Adding the -y 64 saves a lot of time in that your not testing smaller record sizes...64k is what Windows tends to use based on Doug's comments here.

 

[Dennis Wood]

I have confirmed there is a definite issue with firmware 2.0.2 with the TS509 in load balancing network mode, with both LAN ports connected to an LACL capable (and configured switch) which in our case is the 3com 2916.

Two clients copying files to the NAS, even slower machines with single drives, PCI connected gigabit and running XP will bring the unit to a write speed of about 3MB/s.

 

[Meteora]

Hello Dennis,

Thank you for providing the data, I will talk to our staff about this and get back to you as soon as we can.

Warm Regards,

James

QNAP Systems Inc.

 

[Dennis Wood]

James, I tested out the new build uploaded today (Sept 24th). I see there were some other bugs addressed...but the multiple workstation loading issue remains. I haven't tested this in single IP, or fail-over mode....just load balancing mode to the 3com 1219 with an LACL trunk configured.

I'm looking forward to a fix

 

[Meteora]

Hi Dennis,

Yes, the 0924 version was basically built few days ago, so it doesn't include the load balancing issue. BTW, we have got your email and we are doing some investigation now, will keep you guys updated.

* Just like dennis said, an updated firmware for TS-509 is now available (v2.0.2 build 0924), please go to http://forum.qnap.com/viewtopic.php?f=142&t=8408 for more information.

BR,

James