Slow Parity Checks

[BradJ]

My parity checks are taking a long time - about 2.5 days when my largest drives are 14TB.

I decided to look into this.  I downloaded a docker called Disk Speed to do some benchmarking of the drives.  I noticed this:

 

"SAS2308 PCI-Express Fusion-MPT SAS-2

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (Broadcom / LSI)
Serial Attached SCSI controller

Type: Onboard Controller
Current Link Speed: 5GT/s width x1 (500 MB/s max throughput)
Maximum Link Speed: 8GT/s width x8 (7.88 GB/s max throughput)"

 

I think I have found out why my array speeds were maxing out at 500 MB's!

 

My MB manual says this card is in a PCIEX 2.0 x4 slot.  Why would this card be negotiating a x1 connection instead of something higher?

 

Any advice on how to speed this up?

 

Edit: This is in slot3 of a Gigabyte B450 Aorus M Motherboard

 

Thanks!

Edited August 25, 2022 by BradJ

[JorgeB]

26 minutes ago, BradJ said:

Why would this card be negotiating a x1 connection instead of something higher?

Possibly some compatibility issue, I assume the x16 slot is being used?

[BradJ]

Yes, a Nvidia GTX1060 in the x16 slot (for Plex).  I also have 2.5G network card in slot 2.  The LSI card is in the third slot which is supposed to be x4 speed according to the manual.

 

Something must be hogging up the lanes. I'm guessing though as my knowledge in "lanes" is very limited.

 

I can put some of my drives on the MB SATA ports as a workaround -  but what a waste of a nice LSI card to be limited to 500 MB/s.

 

Edited August 25, 2022 by BradJ

[JorgeB]

According to the manual the slot is not shared, look for a BIOS update, it that doesn't help IMHO the best bet would be a different board (or controller).

[BradJ]

I'm on the latest BIOS. 

 

I have another controller card to try out. 

 

Thanks, as always JorgeB. 

 

If anyone else has ideas please chime in! 

[BradJ]

I tried another controller and it appears to be negotiating at x4!

 

SAS2008 PCI-Express Fusion-MPT SAS-2 [Falcon]

Broadcom / LSI
Serial Attached SCSI controller
Type: Onboard Controller
Current & Maximum Link Speed: 5GT/s width x4 (4 GB/s max throughput)

 

I'm hoping the next parity check is much faster!

 

Thanks again JorgeB!