Questions about block size

FAQ, getting help, user experience about PrimoCache
InquiringMind
Level SS
Level SS
Posts: 477
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 11:10 pm

Re: [2020-12-31] PrimoCache 4.0.1 released!

Post by InquiringMind »

Support wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 3:46 am ...the performance of the sequential read/write will be the best.
My experience has been that sequential performance improves noticeably with larger block sizes. Might you have been talking about random, rather than sequential, access?
User avatar
Support
Support Team
Support Team
Posts: 3623
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:42 am

Re: Questions about block size

Post by Support »

When use 1MB test length, it is possible that sequential performance get improved by lager block sizes. This is because larger block size can reduce CPU time on processing requests. However, if test with small test length like 128KB or 64KB, especially in single thread, the sequential performance will be the best when the block size is equal to the cluster size.
TomB
Level 5
Level 5
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:15 pm

Re: Questions about block size

Post by TomB »

Thank you, Jaga, InquiringMind, and @Support.

This is the information / analysis I was hoping for.
TomB
Level 5
Level 5
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:15 pm

Re: Questions about block size

Post by TomB »

I guess my only other question along this topic is: If using a larger block size, what effect might that have on cached writes (especially smaller writes) to the underlying HDD? (I think mentioned earlier that I am using a 180GB NVME SSD to cache a 1TB 7200rpm HDD. This cache task also caches this drive with a 4GB L1 cache. Both caches are Shared, not separate read/write and both caches use 4kb block sizes. And Defer-Write is enabled. I don't know if any of this other information matters, but I thought I would include it. My question is still mainly about the effect of larger block sizes on cached writes. For instance, does PrimoCache have to write out the entire larger cache block every time a small write occurs to one of the clusters in the block?)
User avatar
Support
Support Team
Support Team
Posts: 3623
Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 2:42 am

Re: Questions about block size

Post by Support »

TomB wrote: Mon Jan 11, 2021 8:53 pm For instance, does PrimoCache have to write out the entire larger cache block every time a small write occurs to one of the clusters in the block?
No, only dirty data will be written since v3.0.
TomB
Level 5
Level 5
Posts: 44
Joined: Wed Jul 29, 2020 11:15 pm

Re: Questions about block size

Post by TomB »

Thank you.
Post Reply