Disk Subsystem Performance Analysis for Windows

Updated: March 17, 2004

File name: subsys_perf.doc
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Analyzing storage subsystem performance is an art, not a science. Each rule has an exception; each system designer or administrator has a different combination of hardware configurations and software workloads to consider. This paper examines the performance of storage subsystems used by computers running the Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Server 2003 family of operating systems.

This paper considers performance from both the hardware and software perspectives. In addition, it discusses tools for storage subsystem analysis and design and provides rules of thumb and guidelines for system design and to solve the performance bottlenecks in specific configurations.

Included in this white paper:

• Introduction

• Definitions and Terminology

• Application Characteristics and Considerations

• Windows-related Characteristics and Considerations

• Hardware, Firmware, and Miniport Driver Characteristics and Considerations

• Tools for Storage Performance Analysis

• Rules of Thumb

• Summary and Future Work

• References