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CacheCade

The Dell PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC) H710, H710P, and H810 cards support CacheCade, a feature that can improve application performance by increasing read caching capacity. The CacheCade feature makes use of high performing solid state disks (SSDs) as a secondary tier of cache. CacheCade provides faster reads and maximizes transactional I/O performance.

NOTE: PERC H310 does not support Cachecade.

The use of SSDs for caching allows a large quantity of data to be present in the cache, resulting in performance improvement in read-intensive applications. Some examples of read-intensive applications include online transaction processing (OLTP), file server, and web server workloads. CacheCade allows for an increase in the I/O performance of hard disk drive (HDD)-based disk groups with the assistance of SSD technology.

CacheCade Virtual Disk Characteristics

The following are the CacheCade virtual disk characteristics:

•Support for CacheCade virtual disks exists only on controllers containing 1 GB of Non-Volatile (NV) Cache.

•CacheCade virtual disks can only be created with SSDs.

•The maximum combined size of CacheCade virtual disks is 512 GB.

NOTE: Multiple CacheCade virtual disks may be created, but they are combined to operate as a single cache pool up to the maximum size.

•Data on virtual disks containing secured Self-Encrypting Disks (SEDs) or SSDs will not be cached by CacheCade.

NOTE: Data on VDs with unsecured SEDs can be cached using CacheCade.

•CacheCade virtual disks only cache input reads that are smaller than 64 KB.

•CacheCade virtual disks are read cache only.

•CacheCade virtual disks cannot be migrated to a controller that does not support CacheCade.

•Importing a CacheCade drive may result in a RAID 0 VD. You must reconfigure the CacheCade VD after importing.

•CacheCade virtual disks are not presented to the operating system.

Configuring And Managing CacheCade Virtual Disks

All management applications allow the creation and deletion of CacheCade virtual disks.

The following sections describe the menu options specific to CacheCade virtual disk management and provide detailed instructions to perform the configuration tasks. The contents of the following section apply to the BIOS Configuration Utility (<Ctrl> <R>). For more information on the management applications, see the topic Management Applications For PERC Cards.

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Dell H310, H710P, H810 manual CacheCade Virtual Disk Characteristics, Configuring And Managing CacheCade Virtual Disks
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H310, H710, H710P, H810 specifications

Dell offers a range of storage controller technologies, notably the H810, H710, H710P, and H310, which cater to different enterprise needs. These controllers are designed to support various storage configurations, enhancing overall system performance and reliability.

The Dell H810 is a high-performance PCIe 3.0 RAID controller that supports up to eight internal drives and is particularly suited for demanding workloads. It features advanced RAID levels including RAID 0, 1, 5, 6, 10, 50, and 60, providing flexibility for various data protection strategies. The H810 also supports up to 32TB of storage capacity, making it suitable for environments that require substantial data management capabilities.

The H710 is another powerful RAID controller, widely recognized for its balance of performance and cost-efficiency. It features 1GB of cache memory, which aids in accelerating read and write operations. The H710 supports the same RAID levels as the H810 and allows for up to 512MB of non-volatile memory. This ensures data integrity even in the event of a power failure, making it reliable for critical applications.

The H710P is an enhanced version of the H710, with a significant upgrade in its cache capabilities. It offers 2GB of battery-backed cache memory, further enhancing data processing speeds and improving responsiveness. The H710P is ideal for intensive workloads and virtualization, where rapid access to data is essential. This controller also includes features such as RAID storage pooling, intelligent data tiering, and support for multiple virtual disks.

Finally, the H310 is a cost-effective option for small to medium-sized businesses or those with less demanding storage requirements. It offers similar RAID support as the higher-end controllers but operates with a simpler architecture. The H310 features 512MB of cache, providing sufficient performance for regular workloads without the additional complexities of more advanced controllers.

In summary, Dell's H810, H710, H710P, and H310 storage controllers each serve distinct purposes, providing various features, technologies, and performance characteristics tailored to different business needs. From high-capacity storage solutions to user-friendly setups, Dell’s offerings ensure that organizations can efficiently manage their data storage requirements.
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