Performance ConsiderationsOptimizing the PowerVault RD1000 backup solution to provide the best data transfer speeds andperformance is a key focus for many system administrators. Now with the availability of the PowerVaultRD1000 USB 3.0 the key variable to consider for achieving the best throughput with the RD1000 solutionis implementing an end-to-end USB 3.0 solution.The PowerVault RD1000 USB 3.0 comes complete with the RD1000 dock and the USB 3.0 interface cable,both of which have been designed to meet the USB 3.0 specification. In order to get a complete USB 3.0solution, the host system must also be capable of supporting USB 3.0. Most servers have USB 2.0connections, so in order to realize the performance increase; the host server will need to install a USB3.0 host bus adapter. By attaching the RD1000 USB 3.0 to a host server which only has USB 2.0 or older,will limit the performance of the RD1000 significantly but will still provide a increase in performance ascompared to USB 2.0 to USB 2.0 connection .USB 3.0 Performance Improvements over USB 2.0The PowerVault RD1000 USB 3.0 has been put through Dell’s rigorous performance testing suite whichmeasures the read and write performance across multiple different RD1000 configurations. Theseperformance measurements were compiled and are presented in figures 1 and 2 below to show thebenefits of the RD1000 USB 3.0 over the USB 2.0 version.Multiple data sets were used; however, the primary data set consisted of 10 GB or randomly generateddata. There were 6,169 files ranging in size from 6 KB to 4 MB which were distributed in nested folderstructure of 157 folders. All testing was performed using the data protection software which is includedwith the PowerVault RD1000, Symantec BackupExec 2010 QuickStart.Backup and restores were performed to and from multiple RD1000 USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 docks withvarying combinations of USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 cables and hosts. Averages were then taken across thevarious performance tests with each RD1000. Figure 1 shows the results of the write performance onthe RD1000. Three configurations were tested:1) RD1000 USB 3.0 end-to –end solution,2) RD1000 USB 3.0 with a USB 2.0 host,3) RD1000 USB 2.0 end-to-end solution.