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Ways to improve storage system performance

Some configuration procedures might improve your storage system's performance.

The following are the configuration procedures that might improve your storage system’s performance:
  • Balance NFS traffic on network interfaces

    You can attach multiple interfaces on your storage system to the same physical network to balance network traffic among different interfaces.

    For example, if two Ethernet interfaces on a storage system named toaster are attached to the same network where four NFS clients reside, specify in the /etc/fstab file on client1 and client2 that these clients mount from toaster-0:/home. Specify in the /etc/fstab file on client3 and client4 that these clients mount from toaster-1:/home. This scheme can balance the traffic among interfaces if all clients generate about the same amount of traffic.

    Your storage system always responds to an NFS request by sending its reply on the interface on which the request was received.

  • Correct duplex mismatches on 10Base-T or 100Base-T Ethernet networks

    On 10Base-T or 100Base-T Ethernet networks, the speed and duplex settings for the interfaces at both ends of a link must match exactly. You can use the ifconfig interface command to check the duplex setting of your storage system’s interface.

    If the setting is to autonegotiate, the ifconfig command displays a setting that begins with auto (for example, auto-100tx-fd-up). Otherwise, the ifconfig command displays the setting (for example, 100tx-fd-up).
    Note: If one end of the link is set to autonegotiate, the other end must also be set to autonegotiate; otherwise, a mismatch might occur. You can determine the negotiated setting with the ifstat command.
  • Upgrade to a faster network interface
    You can increase storage system performance by upgrading to a faster network interface. The following lists network interfaces from the fastest to the slowest:
    • Gigabit Ethernet interfaces
    • ATM OC-12 interfaces
    • ATM OC-3 interfaces
    • Fast Ethernet 100Base-T interfaces
    Note: IPsec encryption over 10GbE TOE NICs is not processed at line rate and consumes significant CPU resources