Compaq Infortrend manual Optimization Mode, What RAID level?, 1 Optimization Setting

Optimization Mode

Figure 2 - 1 Optimization Setting

You should select an optimization scheme best suited to your applications before configuring a RAID array. Once the optimization mode is selected, it will be applied to all arrays managed by the RAID controller.

Two options are available: Sequential I/Os and Random I/Os. You may refer to the “Caching Parameters” section in Chapter 5 and Chapter 7 for the stripe size variables and its relations with RAID levels.

Numerous controller parameters are tuned for each optimization mode. Although stripe size can be adjusted on a per logical drive basis, users are not encouraged to make a change to the default values.

For example, smaller stripe sizes are ideal for I/Os that are transaction-based and randomly accessed. However, using the wrong stripe size can cause problems. When an array of the 4KB stripe size receives files of 128KB size, each drive will have to write many more times to store data fragments of the size of 4KB.

Unlike the previous firmware versions, controller optimization mode can be changed without changing the array stripe size.

The default values in optimization modes guarantee the optimal performance for most applications. Consult Table 2-2 for all the controller parameters that are related to system performance and fault- tolerance.

7. What RAID level?

Different RAID levels provide varying levels of performance and fault tolerance.

RAID Planning 2-3