Avago Technologies 3ware 9650SE-12ML (Channel) - Manual (Page 21)

Other Changes in 9.5.2
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Support for 256 KB Stripe Size for RAID 6
RAID 6 units can now be created with a stripe size of 256 KB or 64 KB stripe
size. (Note that 16 KB is not supported for RAID 6.)
Use of the 256 KB stripe size can improve read/write multi-stream
performance, for applications such as video surveillance application, disk-to-
disk backup application, video on-demand application, video delivery, video
editing, and High Performance Computing (HPC).
Changes to stripe size can be made by migrating a unit. For more information,
see “Changing an Existing Configuration by Migrating” in the 3ware SAS/
SATA RAID Software User Guide, Version 9.5.1.
Default Stripe Size is Now 256 KB
When you create a new unit, the default stripe size is now 256 KB for all
supported RAID types.
Using the default stripe size of 256 KB usually gives you the best
performance for mixed I/Os. If your application has some specific I/O pattern
(purely sequential or purely random), you might want to experiment with a
different stripe size.
Default StorSave Profile is Now Balanced
When you create a unit, the default StorSave profile is now “Balanced” when
you have a BBU installed. If you do not have a BBU installed, then the default
StorSave profile is Performance.
A StorSave profile of “Balanced” will result in faster rebuilds, as the write
cache will remain enabled. If you don't have a Battery Backup Unit (BBU),
write performance will likely be higher because write journaling will be
disabled. For more information about StorSave profiles, see 3ware SAS/SATA
RAID Software User Guide, Version 9.5.1.
New Create Array Screens in 3BM
When you create a new unit in 3BM, settings are now available on two
screens instead of one. Several settings for new units are now accessed
through the
Advanced button.
Figure 13 and Figure 14 show the new screens.