It *is* possible that running low on disk space could slow down transfers. For example, TLC/QLC disks typically have a portion of the NAND that they use in a type of "SLC-mode" cache to mask the vastly slower writes inherent to TLC/QLC - but if the disk is nearly full, some of them will have to abandon that strategy. SMR rust spinners can sometimes be similar if they use some CMR tracks as a cache. So, it is indeed possible that nearly full disks can impact performance, but I doubt that's the issue. It seems more likely to me that the initial copy is being put into a memory buffer, then it's having to slow way down as that buffer is filled or it's finalizing the transfer. Could be A/V as well.
I'm currently rebuilding some of my home fileservers and am experimenting with a piece of software called PrimoCache. The idea is that it will let you put either a memory or a SSD cache in front of big, slower rust spinners. I've sized my cache (in this case, 800GB of enterprise-class SAS3 SSDs in a RAID10 fault-tolerant arrangement in front of 64TB of spinners) such that any normal transfer should fit within that cache, but if I do exceed it, performance definitely does slow down. I'm planning on using DFS-R to replicate to an offsite fileserver for additional fault tolerance. -----Original Message----- From: Hardware <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Thane K. Sherrington Sent: Monday, November 8, 2021 4:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [H] Slow Network Transfers So this is an internal link? What is the link speed? When you check taskmgr, what is your network utilization? It sounds to me like an overloaded link or a switch issue. Never heard of slow transfers due to low disk space. T On 05-Nov.-2021 5:13 p.m., Steve Tomporowski wrote: > Ok, I need some advice from people I trust. The company I work for > had transitioned from in-house IT to Bell Technologies, so we > obviously swimming in 'tickets'. We have a main data drive on the > network, the 'K' drive and I've had a ticket in for about 8 months now > on slow transfers. The symptoms are this: When transferring a number > of files from a laptop/desktop, there will be data transfer for about > 1 to 2 seconds, then 20 to 30 seconds of nothing. Rinse and repeat. > I've also noticed that if you transfer a single file, most of the time > it will transfer 99%, then you have 20 to 30 seconds of waiting until > it finishes. > > Now to the question. I've just been told that slow transfers happen > when there is low disk space. Obviously we have a lot of users > accessing the network drive but the slow phenomenon wasn't present > some time ago and has been persisting for a couple of years now. Is > this third-party IT organization correct or blowing smoke. I have > been lied to before by them. > > Thanks...Steve > >
