Micron Drive FIO Performance

As application workloads continue to grow exponentially and compute needs intensify, the processing performance required at the storage layer are growing respectively. Modern storage infrastructure demands a flexible processing platform that can effectively scale workloads of all sizes from edge to the cloud.

The Ampere Altra (80 cores) and Ampere Altra Max (128 cores) AArch64 processors are complete system-on-chip (SOC) solutions built for large-scale, high-performance storage. In addition to incorporating many high-performance cores, Ampere’s innovative architecture delivers predictable high performance, linear scaling, and high energy efficiency. More importantly, the high IO bandwidth provides direct connections to multiple PCIe devices like NVMe and SSD drives, which are essential for heavy workload applications of all sizes from edge to the cloud.

When designing large-scale, high-performance storage, solution architects often choose to run Flexible I/O which is a very common technique that can be used to generate a baseline storage performance for high performance drives. Flexible I/O spawns a number of threads or processes doing a particular type of I/O action as specified by the user. Flexible I/O takes a number of global parameters, each inherited by the thread unless otherwise parameters given to them overriding that setting is given. The typical use of Flexible I/O is to write a job file matching the I/O load one wants to simulate.

In this Flexible I/O performance solution brief, we will go over the Flexible I/O performance data using Micron 9300 PRO and 7450 PRO SSD drives running on Ampere Altra 2P Mt. Jade platform.

Ampere Altra Processors Deliver Disruptive Value for Large-Scale, High-Performance Storage Solution

• Higher core counts as compared to competitors.
• Predictable and linear workload performance.
• Low power consumption - reduces carbon footprint.
• Provide higher IOPS as compared to competitors.

• 80 64-bit CPU cores up to 3.30 GHz
• 64 KB L1 I-cache, 64 KB L1 D-cache per core
• 1 MB L2 cache per core
• 32 MB System Level Cache (SLC)
• 2x full-width (128b) SIMD
• Coherent mesh-based interconnect

Memory

• 8x 72-bit DDR4-3200 channels
• ECC and DDR4 RAS
• Up to 16 DIMMs and 4 TB addressable memory

Connectivity

• 128 lanes of PCIe Gen4
• Coherent multi-socket support
• 4 x16 CCIX lanes

Technology & Functionality

• Arm v8.2+, SBSA Level 4
• Advanced Power Management

Performance

SPECrate®2017 Integer Estimated: 300

Copy
[global] 
name=random 
rw=randread 
bs=4K 
direct=1 
numjobs=4 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=512 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 
 
[global] 
name=randomwrite 
rw=randwrite 
bs=4K 
direct=1 
numjobs=4 
ramp_time=15 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=4 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 

[global] 
name=sequence 
rw=read 
bs=128K 
direct=1 
numjobs=4 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=32 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 

[global] 
name=sequence 
rw=write 
bs=128K 
direct=1 
numjobs=4 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=32 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 

Copy
[global] 
name=random 
rw=randread 
bs=4K 
direct=1 
numjobs=8 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=256 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 

[global] 
name=randomwrite 
rw=randwrite 
bs=4K 
direct=1 
numjobs=8 
ramp_time=20 
runtime=600 
ioengine=libaio 
iodepth=128 
norandommap 
group_reporting 
randrepeat=1 
random_generator=tausworthe64 

We ran a series of Flexible I/O tests to characterize Micron drives Flexible I/O performance on Altra processor. We used Mt. Jade reference platform equipped with two Ampere Altra 80-core and supporting up to 24x U.2 form-factor drives. The tests used the Ampere Altra Q80-30 processor which supports a 3.0Ghz operating frequency.

Working with a full complement of 24x Micron SSDs with NVMe, we can drive sustained peak load into the drives. The Flexible I/O tests showed Ampere Altra processor can saturate 24x Micron drives at their maximum specification in a linear fashion, and still used low CPU utilization which is very impressive!

All data and information contained herein is for informational purposes only and Ampere reserves the right to change it without notice. This document may contain technical inaccuracies, omissions and typographical errors, and Ampere is under no obligation to update or correct this information. Ampere makes no representations or warranties of any kind, including but not limited to express or implied guarantees of noninfringement, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose, and assumes no liability of any kind. All information is provided “AS IS.” This document is not an offer or a binding commitment by Ampere. Use of the products contemplated herein requires the subsequent negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement or is subject to Ampere’s Terms and Conditions for the Sale of Goods.

System configurations, components, software versions, and testing environments that differ from those used in Ampere’s tests may result in different measurements than those obtained by Ampere.

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