Boston Super-i-Stor T4000

For performance testing we used four Windows Server 2003 systems configured with Microsoft's iSCSI initiator version 1.05. With one system logged onto a single cabinet we saw the open-source Iometer utility report an average data throughput of 89MB/sec for one disk worker, ten outstanding I/Os and 64KB transfer requests - similar to that delivered by Adaptec's iSA1500. With four servers logged on to each cabinet we saw a good cumulative throughput of 328MB/sec.

Curiously, we found general processor utilisation to be well above the expected average when using software initiators. On a dual Xeon server, for example, we found utilisation to be in the region of 50 per cent when testing the Adaptec iSCSI appliance. With the server logged on to the Wasabi target, we saw this rise to more than 70 per cent. However, as the software is still in beta phase we expect this to be resolved soon.

There's no denying the Super-i-Stor T4000 shows clearly what iSCSI has to offer at the enterprise level of the storage market. It combines a huge capacity with masses of RAID options and fault-tolerance and, although as yet unfinished, Wasabi's Storage Builder target software delivers a smart web-management interface and plenty of features. Furthermore, although fibre channel will always have the upper hand for performance, it can't compete at this price point in terms of storage capacity.

Author: Dave Mitchell