Key Metrics for Effective Storage Performance and Capacity Reporting - Backend Metrics (9 of 10)

Below are some metrics available on the back end storage array:

These are typical performance metrics showing throughput and response times, the type of thing you need to report on regularly so that you can be on top of performance before incidents start being generated.

Performance Capacity – Array Metrics

The key metrics that you need to get a handle on at volume level are throughput, response and latency.

Below is an example of NetApp metrics at volume level.

and below an example of metrics within EMC at the volume level.

The read/write ratio can give you an idea of what your work profile looks like.

Performance Capacity – Component Breakdown

The example below, using athene^®, shows a component breakdown for the server.

It’s essential to know whether you have any queuing going on (shown in yellow above), if queuing is happening you are exceeding the devices throughput rate.

In the final part of my blog series on Monday I’ll take a look at workload profiles, scorecards and dashboards.

Dale Feiste

Principal Consultant

Key Metrics for Effective Storage Performance and Capacity Reporting (1 of 10)

This blog series will cover the key metrics in storage that you can use to get a handle on your storage capacity.

•        Storage Architecture – basic concepts

•        Two distinct aspects of storage capacity

•        Virtualization

•        Key metrics from the host and backend storage view

•        Reporting on what is most important

I’ll start with the history of storage architecture.

Storage has increased in complexity, as shown in the diagram below, from left to right

Large environments have gone from megabytes to petabytes in terms of Storage and this growth can result in an increase in cost and complexity. 

On Wednesday I’ll look at the 2 distinct aspects of storage capacity.

Dale Feiste

Principal Consultant