PrimoCache Server in combination with a Intel 900P Optane card

[okcomputer360]

Was reading this thread and saw the test results never got uploaded, i'd be interested to see them as to know to either invest in an Optane drive or more ram for my next PC gaming build, Thank you!

[Support]

@okcomputer360, we have sent you an email, please check. Thanks.

[Axel Mertes]

We finally published the testing results on SSD 900P and PrimoCache. Please see
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=4531
Thanks.

Some questions:
a) The link above is dead for me.
What are the latest results with PrimoCache and Intel P900 cards here?

b) Is there a way to utilize more than one Intel P900 card as a cache for a single volume in PrimoCache?
I heard that Intel VROC might enable this, but I think this would require a different mainboard? Or is that a driver thing?
Point is: Multiple cards will be faster than one, plus a single 480 GB card is about 1/3 of the 960 GB card. So we aim at using 2 * 480 GB cards to have more performance - if anyhow possible.

Cheers
Axel

[Support]

What are the latest results with PrimoCache and Intel P900 cards here?

Already sent you the link via email. Please check.

b) Is there a way to utilize more than one Intel P900 card as a cache for a single volume in PrimoCache?

How about using Windows dynamic disks (soft raid)?

[Axel Mertes]

Hi Eric,

Will PrimoCache accept a soft RAID0 as caching volume?
If yes then this is a perfect solution. I hope the RAID0 layer won't introduce too much latency.
Right now I have a hardware RAID0 with 4 SATA SSDs. Unfortunately the controller is not allowing/passing through the TRIM command as it seems. Using Windows software RAID0 might solve this. Will give it a try.

[Support]

Yes, PrimoCache supports soft raid.

[Jaga]

Right now I have a hardware RAID0 with 4 SATA SSDs. Unfortunately the controller is not allowing/passing through the TRIM command as it seems. Using Windows software RAID0 might solve this. Will give it a try.

With over-provisioning set on the drives, Garbage Collection should do the trick, provided your controller has a decent routine. Trim is nice to have, but not completely necessary on modern drives.

[Axel Mertes]

Yes, PrimoCache supports soft raid.

Any performance bottlenecks to expect or will that run as fast as the hardware possibly can?

[Support]

To PrimoCache, no operation differences among soft-raid, hard-raid, or single hard drive. The performance depends on the device itself.

[Axel Mertes]

We will get our new server next week with a single optane p900 480GB card caching a 64 TB RAID6 volume. Will give it a deep test drive with the latest server beta, including write caching. Can't wait to see how far I can grow network transfer peaks.

A second optane is planned, depending on the results.