StorageTek 96127 W2K with servicepack3 applications performance issue, Problem

Windows - Installation Instructions-

Note: Refer also to the PDF documents and configuration and support files to assist with your installation.

■Storage System and Storage Manager - Overview

The FlexLine™ 200 Series and 300 Series storage systems provide access to high-end storage using Fibre Channel and RAID technology.

This document was created to aid in installing these storage systems into a Windows operating environment. It includes driver information, steps to take when planning and assembling a SAN installation, and a list of frequently asked questions (and problems) that may be encountered. This manual is intended to provide tips on attaching to or creating a SAN environment as well as giving some examples of problems that have been encountered.

In addition to this manual, more information is available on the Customer Resource Center (CRC), which also includes tech tips, FAQs, and notices and buletins. Backup information is also on the engineering web sites at:

http://gandalf.stortek.com/ctp/index.html

http://gandalf.stortek.com/ctp/manager/index.html

http://gandalf.stortek.com/ctp/installation/index.html

Upgrades to NVSRAM, controller firmware (as well as ESM and drive code) may be downloaded from the CRC (by going to Current Products >> Disk and selecting your 200/300 Series solution). It is the primary location for obtaining code downloads. On request, non-cost code downloads can be added to the engineering web pages by contacting Disk Engineering.

■Performance Issues

You should be aware of the following performance issue(s).

W2K with servicepack3 applications performance issue.

Problem:

The SCSI standard provides a parameter with the 10 byte Read(0x28) and Write(0x2a) commands entitled Force Unit Access. The FUA bit when set will circumvent cache, essentially forcing a write-thru mode for the command. The scope of this function was pre-raid array, and the non-volatile assurance of battery backed array cache succeeds this implementation.

This function is available to W2k applications via the Win32 CreateFile function with the attribute - FILE_FLAG_WRITE_THROUGH (see Microsoft - Q99794).

All versions of SQL Server open log and data files in this manner (see Microsoft - Q234656). All DBMS applications are likely to employ this method, however,

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