topic Re: Vault Server machine - hard disk(s) in Vault Forum

Vault Server machine - hard disk(s)

M.Hawryluk — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 11:10:26 GMT

Dear all,

I would like to hear your opinion on the HDD's/SSD's setup for Vault Server machine.

I want to start with Vault Basic (Windows Server 2019 Standard) with an option to switch in the future to Vault Professional. I'm thinking about two Toshiba MG Series enterprise grade HDD's (7200 rpm, SATA) in RAID 1.
So basically, everything (OS, ADMS, Filestore, Database) on one physical drive and one partition C:. The second drive would be RAID 1 "mirror". Backups created on C: and later moved to NAS.

Does it make sense to you?

I've been also thinking about putting OS and ADMS to SSD and Filestore and Database to HHD, but I'm not sure which option is better.
Btw. does anyone have experience with Vault performance running on RAID 1 disk?

With kind regards,
Michal

Re: Vault Server machine - hard disk(s)

swalton — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 15:28:40 GMT

Its all driven by the number of concurrent users, size of the CAD models/files, and network speed.

Digging through the link below, it looks like Autodesk recommends RAID 10 setups.

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/vault-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Does-Vault-have-a-limit-on-the-number-of-users.html

Re: Vault Server machine - hard disk(s)

DarrenP — Wed, 30 Sep 2020 18:19:39 GMT

performance is just just going to be only on RAID configuration

if your looking to increase performance read this article: https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/vault-products/learn-explore/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/How-to-improve-Vault-performance.html

Re: Vault Server machine - hard disk(s)

christopher.brian — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:44:03 GMT

@M.Hawryluk

Have you test your setup for Sequential dan Random Read/Write throughput?

I believe it's about balancing those throughput.

This is my go to setup, each has it's own physical pool:

1) OS & ADMS, RAID 1 HDD.

Allocation Unit Size : 64Kb

It will only take 1-2 minute to boot, and I rarely restart the machine.

I do not see much benefit going for SSD. Plus, I will get more rewrite on HDD.

2) Database & it's log, RAID 10 HDD.

Allocation Unit Size : 64Kb

3) tempDB & it's log, SSD

Allocation Unit Size : 4Kb

4) Filestore, RAID 10 HDD.
Allocation Unit Size : 64Kb

5) Backup, RAID 10 HDD

Allocation Unit Size : 64Kb

I always try to balance the sequential read speed of Filestore and the sequential write speed of the Backup. I will avoid backing up to a production pool.

In my experience, memory capacity and storage read/write speed will always be the bottleneck. Only when you go full SSD, you will need faster CPU and networking.