OakGate Expandable Desktop Storage Test Platform Review and Demonstration

 

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Review: OakGate Expandable Desktop Storage Test
Platform
Reviewed by: J.Reynolds
Provided by: OakGate
Firmware version: SVF Version 3.6.4

Introduction

In March 2013 Myce and OakGate Technology (hereafter
referred to as OakGate) entered into a joint partnership for the testing and
reviewing of enterprise storage products. In keeping with both parties
continuing commitment to the partnership, Myce has recently completed the
implementation of one of OakGate’s latest test appliances - the Expandable
Desktop Storage Test Platform together with an optional 4-Bay U.2 Plug-In Module.

The first review to use Myce’s new Enterprise Storage Test
Platform, the Toshiba HK4E 1.6TB SATA Enterprise SSD Review, has
recently been published and can be viewed by clicking here.

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We are now pleased to present this review of our new
Enterprise Storage Test Platform, itself.

OakGate is arguably the world’s leading supplier of storage test
platforms and you can visit their website by clicking here.  

OakGate’s Storage Test Platforms are implemented within
OakGate’s Storage Validation Framework (‘SVF’); the SVF is composed of three main
components:

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-      Controller
Client –
OakGate controller application software, which is installed on a
customer’s Windows PC or Linux-based machine and controls the appliance to test
the devices under test (DUTs).

-      Appliance
– the OakGate test and validation software suite installed on an OakGate
Linux-based desktop or rack-mount system.

-      Connections
to DUTs
– connections for DUTs may reside within an OakGate appliance
backplane, a plug-in module or in an OakGate supported external enclosure.

The controller client directs the appliance over the
Internet or within a private network, via TCP/IP, which allows remote access
and multiple sessions to be established. The appliance directly connects to
DUTs such as SSDs and HDDs.

Myce’s Enterprise Test Platform consists of:

-      Controller
Client
– Windows 10 PC (usually a Shuttle DS57U), connected to the Appliance
via a private network

-      Appliance
– OakGate Expandable Desktop Appliance

-      Add
on Module
– OakGate 4-Bay U.2 Plug-In Module

In this picture of Myce’s Enterprise Storage Test Platform
the OakGate Expandable Desktop Appliance contains an embedded OakGate 4-Bay U.2
Plug-in Module with three SSDs installed.

More specifically Myce’s OakGate Expandable Desktop Appliance
consists of:

-      Motherboard:
Supermicro X10SRA

-      CPU:
Intel Xeon E5-1650 @ 3.5GHz

-      RAM:
32GB DDR4 @ 2134MHz

This photo shows an elevated view of the Expandable Desktop
with its top cover removed.

This photo shows an OakGate 4-Bay U.2 Plug-in Module.

This photo shows the appliance’s three, PCIe (Gen-3) x16
slots.  In the first (leftmost) slot is an OakGate PCIe Power Interposer Card,
which supports power cycling and power measurement – a PCIe SSD Add-In Card (AIC)
can be tested when inserted in this interposer card. In the second (middle)
slot is an SAS/SATA HBA, which enables communication with the appliance and SAS/SATA
SSDs in the 4-Bay U.2 Plug-in module.  In the third (rightmost) slot is an
OakGate NVMe x16 Host Card, which enables communication with the appliance and
NVMe SSDs in the 4-Bay U.2 Plug-in module. 

The configuration allows up to four and any combination of
SAS, SATA, or NVMe SSDs that use a U.2/DFF-8639 connector to be tested
concurrently within the 4-Bay U.2 Plug-In.

On the next page, I include a high level overview of the
OakGate Storage Validation Framework.

On page 3, I include a demonstration video showing how to create,
run and report the results of an Automated Performance Test in SVF. Although
this by no means covers all of the functionality provided by Oakgate, I hope it
gives a good insight into the comprehensive capability and usability of the
platform.


Now let's head to the next page, for an overview of the
OakGate Storage Validation Framework

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