Are there write and read speed too low?

[QQtechQQ]

The write and read speed tested with Disksped (not diskspeed) is really low to me.
Here is some of the information:
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File Server Spec is:
Windows Server 2003 Enterprise w/SP1
Dual Xeon dual core 2.8GHz (total 4 cores)
2GB DDR333 ECC Registered RAM
2xWD7500AAYS SATA Raid 1 (Drive name is P: )
1xWD2000JB IDE (Drive name is Z: )
Intel PRO1000 Gigabit LAN (onboard)
Intel E7525 chipset
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Software loaded on server (I did not build this server...)
AD, DNS, DHCP, WINS, File Server, Exchange Server 2003 Enterprise, MSSQL2005 Express, CA Server.
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Networking Device
Netgear GS716T Gigabit Switch
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Testing workstation spec:
Windows XP Pro w/SP2
Athlon64 3000+
2GB DDR400 RAM
1xWD5000KS SATA (Drive name is C: )
Gigabit LAN
nForce4 Chipset
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The result is below, all in MB/s test with 1MB data transfer from workstation to server.
UNW = uncached new file write speed
UW = uncached write speed
UR = uncached read speed
CW = cached write speed
CR = cached read speed
=======================
to drive P: (Raid 1 on server)
|UNW| UW | UR | CW | CR |
|0.20 | 1.06 |32.26| 3.05 |32.26|
=======================
to drive Z: (No raid on server)
|UNW| UW | UR | CW | CR |
|7.33| 9.48 |31.25| 5.82 |32.26|
=======================
to drive C: (No raid on local computer)
|UNW| UW | UR | CW | CR |
|33.33|68.89|15.88|62.51|1000+|
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After reviewing the above numbers, personally i think it is really slow for the network transfer to P:. I have no idea which would be the major cause of this. I am thinking its caused by Exchange server 2003 but i am not really sure.
I am planing to implement NAS to supplement for this server as file sharing server.
Please tell me if a NAS will give much much better performance than this!!

Your inputs are welcome and appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Fardringle]

Are you trying to test the speed of the disks on the server, or data transfer across the network? If you are worried about disk speed, run the tests locally on the server, not across the network. When you do it across the network, you're adding a lot of other variables to the system that have nothing to do with the disks themselves so you won't get accurate results for the speed of the disks.

 

[Madwand1]

I'd try a different benchmark and larger files (at least 100 MB) to get a better idea of sustained sequential transfer rates.

Here's a guide for setting up IOMeter. I'd change the file size to be 10x that and also include 64K transfers (which are often used by applications).

http://www.infrant.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=265

ATTO 256MB gives even simpler read/write performance measurements, but is more applicable to quick & dirty than reliability and repeatability. E.g. for setup:

http://i89.photobucket.com/alb...tto-random-network.png