4. Performance

I tested the MSS' networked data read and write performance using the iozone tool as described on this page. The test was run under Mac OS X on my iBook which has 640 MB of RAM. File system performance, i.e. how fast your computer can read / write data to a drive, depends on many factors that are specific to the system running the test. To put the results in perspective, I also ran the same iozone tests against a Linksys NSLU2, a Buffalo Technology Kuro Box, a Simple Tech SimpleShare and a Synology Diskstation using the same parameters, network connections and iBook.

Figure 4: Read performance
(click for full resolution image)

The read and write profiles shown in Figures 4 and 5 show performance in the same ballpark as the aforementioned drives I've tested. Keeping in mind that the maximum raw data rate for 100Mbps Ethernet is 12500 kBytes/sec, it's clear that the MSS only approaches the max when reading smaller file sizes.

Figure 5: Write performance
(click for full resolution image)

Moving out to the flatter part of the curve past cache and buffering effects, Figures 6 and 7 allow a direct comparison of read and write performance with a 128 MByte file size and varying record sizes.

Figure 6: Comparative Read performance - 128 MByte file
(click for full resolution image)

The MSS comes out on top for read performance, but falls in the middle of the pack when writing.

Figure 7: Comparative Write performance - 128 MByte file
( click for full resolution image)