Test Setup

We've changed from using manual file copy tests to Intel's NAS Performance Toolkit. This allows you to obtain results for numerous tasks such as coping individual files, directories, photo albums as well as multiple instances of video streaming.


We perform the following tests:

• Directory copy (copying a large directory tree)
  
• File copy (copying a large single file)
  
• HD Playback and Record (two concurrent 720p video streams (one playback, one record)
  
• Photo Album (browsing a collection of hi-res photos)
  
• Quad-stream video playback (four concurrent 720p playback streams)

The results are recorded in megabytes a second. To test unpopulated NAS enclosures, we use Western Digital Red hard disks along with an SSD in the test system, with both connected to a Gigabit router. The system is limited to 2GB RAM to ensure accurate results. We configure 2-bay NAS enclosures to operate in RAID 1 mode as this is the most likely scenario for end users as it provides redundancy. We use two 2TB Western Digital Red hard disks for 2-bay NAS enclosures, four 4TB Western Digital Red hard disks in 4-bay enclosures configured in RAID 5 and the included hard disks for populated enclosures.