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* [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results
@ 2012-05-13 20:28 walt
  2012-05-13 20:39 ` Volker Armin Hemmann
  2012-05-13 21:00 ` Michael Mol
  0 siblings, 2 replies; 5+ messages in thread
From: walt @ 2012-05-13 20:28 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

I have a usb3 docking station which is showing some behavior I don't
understand:

 #hdparm -t /dev/sdc

/dev/sdc:
 Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 268 MB in  3.01 seconds =  89.05 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.01 seconds =  88.43 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.02 seconds =  88.10 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.01 seconds = 101.72 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.84 MB/sec
 Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.86 MB/sec

That's all the same disk, repeating hdparm as fast as I could.  The
disk was not even mounted at the time, and no other disks were active.

Two very different but reproducible numbers, changing values at random
times.  The only thing I can think of is that the disk may be doing
a SMART self-test, but for some reason the USB connection prevents
me from accessing the data so I can't test my theory.

Any other ideas?




^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 5+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results
  2012-05-13 20:28 [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results walt
@ 2012-05-13 20:39 ` Volker Armin Hemmann
  2012-05-13 21:00 ` Michael Mol
  1 sibling, 0 replies; 5+ messages in thread
From: Volker Armin Hemmann @ 2012-05-13 20:39 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user; +Cc: walt

Am Sonntag, 13. Mai 2012, 13:28:45 schrieb walt:
> I have a usb3 docking station which is showing some behavior I don't
> understand:
> 
>  #hdparm -t /dev/sdc
> 
> /dev/sdc:
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 268 MB in  3.01 seconds =  89.05 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.01 seconds =  88.43 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.02 seconds =  88.10 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.01 seconds = 101.72 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.84 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.86 MB/sec
> 
> That's all the same disk, repeating hdparm as fast as I could.  The
> disk was not even mounted at the time, and no other disks were active.
> 
> Two very different but reproducible numbers, changing values at random
> times.  The only thing I can think of is that the disk may be doing
> a SMART self-test, but for some reason the USB connection prevents
> me from accessing the data so I can't test my theory.
> 
> Any other ideas?

it is usb... don't loose any sweat about it. The numbers are fine and variation 
is to be expected.

-- 
#163933



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 5+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results
  2012-05-13 20:28 [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results walt
  2012-05-13 20:39 ` Volker Armin Hemmann
@ 2012-05-13 21:00 ` Michael Mol
  2012-05-14 14:52   ` [gentoo-user] " walt
  1 sibling, 1 reply; 5+ messages in thread
From: Michael Mol @ 2012-05-13 21:00 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 4:28 PM, walt <w41ter@gmail.com> wrote:
> I have a usb3 docking station which is showing some behavior I don't
> understand:
>
>  #hdparm -t /dev/sdc
>
> /dev/sdc:
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 268 MB in  3.01 seconds =  89.05 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.01 seconds =  88.43 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.02 seconds =  88.10 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.01 seconds = 101.72 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.84 MB/sec
>  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.86 MB/sec
>
> That's all the same disk, repeating hdparm as fast as I could.  The
> disk was not even mounted at the time, and no other disks were active.
>
> Two very different but reproducible numbers, changing values at random
> times.  The only thing I can think of is that the disk may be doing
> a SMART self-test, but for some reason the USB connection prevents
> me from accessing the data so I can't test my theory.
>
> Any other ideas?

bonnie++?

My first guess is that something on the same USB bus might be
periodically active, changing how the kernel manages talking to USB
devices. Try ensuring no other USB devices are connected (or active),
and running something like "hdparm -t /dev/sdc; hdparm -t /dev/sdc;
hdparm -t /dev/sdc; hdparm -t /dev/sdc; hdparm -t /dev/sdc; hdparm -t
/dev/sdc" ...letting the shell automate it for you.

My second guess would be something relating to the kernel's page
cache...but I'm unsure if a filesystem needs to be mounted first.

My third guess would be some internal buffering behavior inside the
USB disk, and hdparm's behavior happens to straddle an edge condition.




-- 
:wq



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 5+ messages in thread

* [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Curious hdparm results
  2012-05-13 21:00 ` Michael Mol
@ 2012-05-14 14:52   ` walt
  2012-05-14 15:22     ` Michael Mol
  0 siblings, 1 reply; 5+ messages in thread
From: walt @ 2012-05-14 14:52 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On 05/13/2012 02:00 PM, Michael Mol wrote:
> On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 4:28 PM, walt <w41ter@gmail.com> wrote:
>> > I have a usb3 docking station which is showing some behavior I don't
>> > understand:
>> >
>> >  #hdparm -t /dev/sdc
>> >
>> > /dev/sdc:
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.01 seconds =  88.43 MB/sec
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.02 seconds =  88.10 MB/sec
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.01 seconds = 101.72 MB/sec
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.84 MB/sec
>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.86 MB/sec
>> >
>> > That's all the same disk, repeating hdparm as fast as I could.  The
>> > disk was not even mounted at the time, and no other disks were active.
>> >
>> > Two very different but reproducible numbers, changing values at random
>> > times.  The only thing I can think of is that the disk may be doing
>> > a SMART self-test, but for some reason the USB connection prevents
>> > me from accessing the data so I can't test my theory.
>> >
>> > Any other ideas?

> bonnie++?

As Volker suggested, I'm not worried about this but I'm always up for
learning new stuff, so I tried bonnie++ on the machine's main hard
drive and on the outboard docking station (both Western Digital).

Here is bonnie's printout for each drive.  Can you tell which is which?
(They must have hired a special consultant to design the format ;)

Version  1.96       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
a6               7G   403  97 77669  10 36911   7  2820  83 104831  11 225.0   4
Latency             38221us    1376ms     681ms   68894us     160ms     965ms
Version  1.96       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
a6                  -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16 17246  25 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++
Latency              2363us     563us     653us     157us      10us     238us
1.96,1.96,a6,1,1337025021,7G,,403,97,77669,10,36911,7,2820,83,104831,11,225.0,4,16,,,,,17246,25,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,38221us,1376ms,681ms,68894us,160ms,965ms,2363us,563us,653us,157us,10us,238us



Version  1.96       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
a6               7G   714  99 92174  11 24808   4  3938  96 112295  14 128.1   3
Latency             11493us    1582ms     233ms   25883us   22036us    5344ms
Version  1.96       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
a6                  -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
                 16 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++
Latency              2515us     517us    2818us    1271us      18us     293us
1.96,1.96,a6,1,1337028303,7G,,714,99,92174,11,24808,4,3938,96,112295,14,128.1,3,16,,,,,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,11493us,1582ms,233ms,25883us,22036us,5344ms,2515us,517us,2818us,1271us,18us,293us







^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 5+ messages in thread

* Re: [gentoo-user] Re: [OT] Curious hdparm results
  2012-05-14 14:52   ` [gentoo-user] " walt
@ 2012-05-14 15:22     ` Michael Mol
  0 siblings, 0 replies; 5+ messages in thread
From: Michael Mol @ 2012-05-14 15:22 UTC (permalink / raw
  To: gentoo-user

On Mon, May 14, 2012 at 10:52 AM, walt <w41ter@gmail.com> wrote:
> On 05/13/2012 02:00 PM, Michael Mol wrote:
>> On Sun, May 13, 2012 at 4:28 PM, walt <w41ter@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> > I have a usb3 docking station which is showing some behavior I don't
>>> > understand:
>>> >
>>> >  #hdparm -t /dev/sdc
>>> >
>>> > /dev/sdc:
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.01 seconds =  88.43 MB/sec
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.02 seconds =  88.10 MB/sec
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.01 seconds = 101.72 MB/sec
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 266 MB in  3.00 seconds =  88.59 MB/sec
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.84 MB/sec
>>> >  Timing buffered disk reads: 306 MB in  3.00 seconds = 101.86 MB/sec
>>> >
>>> > That's all the same disk, repeating hdparm as fast as I could.  The
>>> > disk was not even mounted at the time, and no other disks were active.
>>> >
>>> > Two very different but reproducible numbers, changing values at random
>>> > times.  The only thing I can think of is that the disk may be doing
>>> > a SMART self-test, but for some reason the USB connection prevents
>>> > me from accessing the data so I can't test my theory.
>>> >
>>> > Any other ideas?
>
>> bonnie++?
>
> As Volker suggested, I'm not worried about this but I'm always up for
> learning new stuff, so I tried bonnie++ on the machine's main hard
> drive and on the outboard docking station (both Western Digital).
>
> Here is bonnie's printout for each drive.  Can you tell which is which?
> (They must have hired a special consultant to design the format ;)

Yeah, Bonnie++'s output format is a PITA in some environments. It's
just a table, but it's almost unreadable with variable-width type, and
it's worse when it wraps. I had to copy it into a text editor to be
able to read it.

>
> Version  1.96       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
> Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
> Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
> a6               7G   403  97 77669  10 36911   7  2820  83 104831  11 225.0   4
> Latency             38221us    1376ms     681ms   68894us     160ms     965ms
> Version  1.96       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
> a6                  -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
>              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
>                 16 17246  25 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++
> Latency              2363us     563us     653us     157us      10us     238us
> 1.96,1.96,a6,1,1337025021,7G,,403,97,77669,10,36911,7,2820,83,104831,11,225.0,4,16,,,,,17246,25,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,38221us,1376ms,681ms,68894us,160ms,965ms,2363us,563us,653us,157us,10us,238us
>
>
>
> Version  1.96       ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random-
> Concurrency   1     -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks--
> Machine        Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP  /sec %CP
> a6               7G   714  99 92174  11 24808   4  3938  96 112295  14 128.1   3
> Latency             11493us    1582ms     233ms   25883us   22036us    5344ms
> Version  1.96       ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create--------
> a6                  -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete--
>              files  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP  /sec %CP
>                 16 +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++ +++++ +++
> Latency              2515us     517us    2818us    1271us      18us     293us
> 1.96,1.96,a6,1,1337028303,7G,,714,99,92174,11,24808,4,3938,96,112295,14,128.1,3,16,,,,,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,+++++,+++,11493us,1582ms,233ms,25883us,22036us,5344ms,2515us,517us,2818us,1271us,18us,293us

I'd guess the second printout is the USB drive. It has a much higher
latency on the sequential input test. But that's the only big
difference I can spot.

And I'd disagree with Volker on the "It's USB..." assessment. USB3 is
a _very_ different animal from earlier versions. You get nice things
like DMA, and your CPU usage is far lower than USB2, since the CPU
doesn't have to poll the USB controller for status updates. Honestly,
I'm very impressed at how similar those two printouts look, stat wise.
It's a close call to be able to identify which is which, and I'm not
really confident I did.

-- 
:wq



^ permalink raw reply	[flat|nested] 5+ messages in thread

end of thread, other threads:[~2012-05-14 15:24 UTC | newest]

Thread overview: 5+ messages (download: mbox.gz follow: Atom feed
-- links below jump to the message on this page --
2012-05-13 20:28 [gentoo-user] [OT] Curious hdparm results walt
2012-05-13 20:39 ` Volker Armin Hemmann
2012-05-13 21:00 ` Michael Mol
2012-05-14 14:52   ` [gentoo-user] " walt
2012-05-14 15:22     ` Michael Mol

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