WD-RED NAS Performance (in TS-1635AX)

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holger_kuehn
Easy as a breeze
Posts: 413
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:45 pm
Location: Premnitz, Germany

WD-RED NAS Performance (in TS-1635AX)

Post by holger_kuehn »

Hi,

I've been using the WD-RED drives for quite some time now, the earliest one I could find records of were WD30EFRX from end 2013. I couldn't complain for many years. Recently I'd redone my TS-1635AX with WD140EFFXs. At first they seemed fine as well, but lately I'm experiencing delays quite often, so I've done some searching here on the forum and tested the drives. I've been able to get some other drives for comparison:

Here are some measurements:

While they perform in idle state acceptable, here on my backup unit without any operation (drives 7 to 9), with 200 MiB/s:

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Type      Size      Alias             Signature   Partitions  Model
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          SSD:data  232.89 GB M.2 SSD 1         QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 250GB
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          SSD:data  232.89 GB M.2 SSD 2         QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 250GB
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdh          SSD:data  223.58 GB SSD 1             QNAP FLEX   5           SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdi          SSD:data  223.58 GB SSD 2             QNAP FLEX   5           SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdj          SSD:data  223.58 GB SSD 3             QNAP FLEX   5           SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdk          SSD:data  223.58 GB SSD 4             QNAP FLEX   5           SanDisk SSD PLUS 240GB
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdg          HDD:data  12.73 TB  Disk 1            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD140EFFX-68VBXN0
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdf          HDD:data  12.73 TB  Disk 2            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD140EFFX-68VBXN0
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sde          HDD:data  12.73 TB  Disk 3            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD140EFFX-68VBXN0
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdd          HDD:data  9.10 TB   Disk 4            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD100EFAX-68LHPN0
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdc          HDD:data  9.10 TB   Disk 5            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD100EFAX-68LHPN0

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          536.62 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.04 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          536.56 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.04 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdh          381.41 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       958.21 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdi          371.33 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       958.21 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdj          370.67 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       958.21 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdk          372.33 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       958.21 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdg          206.51 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.13 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdf          199.64 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.13 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sde          213.33 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.13 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdd          198.06 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.13 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdc          191.68 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.13 MB/s       2
They drop considerably while used for read-write (in the following charts for Plex media direct play and SMB form PC with en- or transcoding video files (drives 10 and 11).

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Type      Size      Alias             Signature   Partitions  Model
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          SSD:data  1.82 TB   M.2 SSD 1         QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 2TB
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          SSD:data  1.82 TB   M.2 SSD 2         QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO M.2 2TB
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          SSD:data  465.76 GB SSD 1             QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          SSD:data  465.76 GB SSD 2             QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          SSD:data  465.76 GB SSD 3             QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          SSD:data  465.76 GB SSD 4             QNAP FLEX   5           Samsung SSD 860 EVO 500GB
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          HDD:data  16.37 TB  Disk 1            QNAP FLEX   5           Seagate ST18000NM000J-2TV103
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          HDD:data  16.37 TB  Disk 2            QNAP FLEX   5           Seagate ST18000NM000J-2TV103
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          HDD:data  16.37 TB  Disk 3            QNAP FLEX   5           Seagate ST18000NM000J-2TV103
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          HDD:data  12.73 TB  Disk 4            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD140EFFX-68VBXN0
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          HDD:data  12.73 TB  Disk 5            QNAP FLEX   5           WDC WD140EFFX-68VBXN0

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          535.76 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          532.37 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          480.19 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.58 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          482.21 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.58 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          477.38 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.58 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          483.58 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.58 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          235.60 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       203.36 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          252.00 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       203.36 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          243.60 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       203.36 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          108.21 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       203.36 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          99.39 MB/s    /dev/md3    RAID 6       203.36 MB/s       2
The EXOs (drives 7-9) I could get from my workplace maintain speeds of 220 and more regardless of usage (during most measurements they stay above 250 from 270 in the specs).

Regarding the latest WD disasters with CMR/SMR and 5700-RPM-class and the longstanding MTBF of 1E14. Are there any pros left I'm currently missing in comparison to all the other drives out there?
NAS (production): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
NAS (backup): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
QTS (SSD): [RAID-1] 2 x 2TB Samsung Evo 860 M.2-Sata
Data (QTier): [RAID-6] 4 x 4TB Samsung 870 QVO Sata
Data (HDD): [RAID-6] 7 x 18TB Exos
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower CP900EPFCLCD
BACKUP: 10x4TB WD Red using a USB 3.0 Dock
Usage: SMB with rclone (encrypted)

NAS: TS-873U-RP FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
Data (SSD): [RAID-10] 4 x 1TB Samsung Evo 860 Sata
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower PR2200ELCDRT2U
BACKUP: 4TB Synology DS214 FW: DSM 7.0.41890
Usage: SMB, Backup Domain Controller
holger_kuehn
Easy as a breeze
Posts: 413
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:45 pm
Location: Premnitz, Germany

Re: WD-RED NAS Performance (in TS-1635AX)

Post by holger_kuehn »

Some more tests:

First with the last WD-RED 14TB disc (Port 11)

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          532.71 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          531.28 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          507.10 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.43 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          506.74 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.43 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          507.01 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.43 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          507.04 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.43 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          248.68 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       576.12 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          260.55 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       576.12 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          229.22 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       576.12 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          258.83 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       576.12 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          178.69 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       576.12 MB/s       2
Second even in degraded mode with parity / data reconstruction it's much faster at this point, due to better IOPS I suppose

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          531.74 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          524.63 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          506.17 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.36 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          506.07 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.36 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          506.07 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.36 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          507.00 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.36 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          252.21 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       763.68 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          258.34 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       763.68 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          247.52 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       763.68 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          258.96 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       763.68 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    -----
This is during Rebuild with Plex usage and transcoding videos ...

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          532.54 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1013.00 MB/s      1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          531.32 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1013.00 MB/s      1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          502.16 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.21 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          503.35 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.21 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          502.62 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.21 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          504.08 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.21 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          221.00 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.80 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          222.39 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.80 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          213.89 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.80 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          228.84 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.80 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          169.26 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       514.80 MB/s       2
When rebuild is finished once again, I'll post the last one ...
NAS (production): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
NAS (backup): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
QTS (SSD): [RAID-1] 2 x 2TB Samsung Evo 860 M.2-Sata
Data (QTier): [RAID-6] 4 x 4TB Samsung 870 QVO Sata
Data (HDD): [RAID-6] 7 x 18TB Exos
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower CP900EPFCLCD
BACKUP: 10x4TB WD Red using a USB 3.0 Dock
Usage: SMB with rclone (encrypted)

NAS: TS-873U-RP FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
Data (SSD): [RAID-10] 4 x 1TB Samsung Evo 860 Sata
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower PR2200ELCDRT2U
BACKUP: 4TB Synology DS214 FW: DSM 7.0.41890
Usage: SMB, Backup Domain Controller
holger_kuehn
Easy as a breeze
Posts: 413
Joined: Sun Oct 20, 2013 11:45 pm
Location: Premnitz, Germany

Re: WD-RED NAS Performance (in TS-1635AX)

Post by holger_kuehn »

The last rebuild finished in approximately half the time than the one before that. So there is much better throughput ...

During the last few days I've done some more tests. In most cases it came in around 330 to 380 MB/s.

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          532.47 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          532.20 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.00 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          507.57 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.46 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          507.24 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.46 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          507.80 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.46 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          507.50 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.46 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          241.16 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       325.72 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          239.91 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       325.72 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          248.72 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       325.72 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          255.82 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       325.72 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          241.78 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       325.72 MB/s       2
Interestingly, during intensive use, it got higher, here around 440 MB/s.

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Enclosure  Port  Sys_Name          Throughput    RAID        RAID_Type    RAID_Throughput   Pool
NAS_HOST   1     /dev/sda          533.04 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.01 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   2     /dev/sdb          531.67 MB/s   /dev/md1    RAID 1       1.01 GB/s         1
NAS_HOST   3     /dev/sdl          505.48 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.44 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   4     /dev/sdm          504.91 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.44 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   5     /dev/sdn          503.85 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.44 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   6     /dev/sdo          504.32 MB/s   /dev/md2    RAID 6       1.44 GB/s         2
NAS_HOST   7     /dev/sdk          208.15 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       442.90 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   8     /dev/sdj          224.17 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       442.90 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   9     /dev/sdi          207.51 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       442.90 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   10    /dev/sdh          216.23 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       442.90 MB/s       2
NAS_HOST   11    /dev/sdg          205.15 MB/s   /dev/md3    RAID 6       442.90 MB/s       2
So there is potential left, in theory up to 650 MB/s with those 5 / 3 drives I believe. Should get even higher when extending the RAID with more discs.
I've never seen those numbers when testing the WED RED 140EFFXs. Especially not when doing something else during the tests.

Since removing the last WD drive the samba service is much more stable on my Windows 10 machine. So personally, I can not recommend the 14TB WD-RED drives, any longer.
NAS (production): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
NAS (backup): TS-1635AX FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
QTS (SSD): [RAID-1] 2 x 2TB Samsung Evo 860 M.2-Sata
Data (QTier): [RAID-6] 4 x 4TB Samsung 870 QVO Sata
Data (HDD): [RAID-6] 7 x 18TB Exos
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower CP900EPFCLCD
BACKUP: 10x4TB WD Red using a USB 3.0 Dock
Usage: SMB with rclone (encrypted)

NAS: TS-873U-RP FW: QTS 5.1.4.2596 build 20231128
Data (SSD): [RAID-10] 4 x 1TB Samsung Evo 860 Sata
RAM: 8 GB (QNAP shipped)
UPS: CyberPower PR2200ELCDRT2U
BACKUP: 4TB Synology DS214 FW: DSM 7.0.41890
Usage: SMB, Backup Domain Controller
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