Nexsan SATABeast review

For performance testing, the SATABeast was installed on our lab's resident 2Gb/sec FC SAN constructed from a QLogic SAN Connectivity Kit. We created two quad-disk striped arrays, with one on each controller, and used each one to create a single volume. We then used Windows Server 2003 test clients equipped with 2Gb/sec QLogic HBAs, and started with one system directly attached to the first controller. Using the freely available Iometer configured with two disk workers, 64KB transfer request and 100 per cent sequential reads, we saw the server return a speedy 184MB/sec average transfer rate. We then added a second test system to the other controller and logged on to the second volume. With Iometer running on both systems, we saw a cumulative throughput of no less than 364MB/sec.

General performance isn't too far behind the more expensive FC-based appliances. For example, check out NetApp's FAS3020c, as its FC hard disks and multiple controllers returned a raw performance of 191MB/sec for one server and 380MB/sec for two. Definitely faster, but its 2TB of fast FC storage will set you back around £43,000. Quite simply, businesses that need a whole heap of network storage at a competitive price should look no further than the SATABeast.

Author: Dave Mitchell