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Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 iSCSI Performance

The purpose of this review is to compare the iSCSI performance of Windows Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2. The comparison test was performed between a quad-core client machine running the Windows 10 operating system and two identical quad-core servers with the first one running the Server 2012 operating system and the second one running the Server 2012 R2 operating system. The client machine and both servers were equipped with identical Crucial MX300 1TB SSD drives. An identical data set containing 30,000 small and medium-sized files was copied between the client machine and both of the servers using the DiskBoss data management utility, which is capable of transferring data using multiple parallel data streams.

Performance CounterServer 2012Server 2012 R2
Disk Transfer Rate 131.78 MB/Sec 134.33 MB/Sec
Disk Read Transfer 47.58 MB/Sec 47.75 MB/Sec
Disk Write Transfer 84.20 MB/Sec 86.58 MB/Sec
Disk Transfer IOPS 1376.57 IOPS 1482.02 IOPS
Disk Read IOPS 230.16 IOPS 196.01 IOPS
Disk Write IOPS 1146.41 IOPS 1286.01 IOPS
Disk Average Request Size 123.69 KB 129.23 KB
Disk Average Read Request Size 209.24 KB 218.01 KB
Disk Average Write Request Size 109.45 KB 113.76 KB
Disk Average Request Time 3.65 ms. 3.96 ms.
Disk Average Read Request Time 3.41 ms. 4.05 ms.
Disk Average Write Request Time 3.88 ms. 4.11 ms.
CPU Usage 8.33 % 8.42 %
CPU Usage System 7.92 % 7.67 %
Process CPU Usage 31.87 % 32.65 %
Process Memory Used 11.87 MB 11.76 MB
Process Data Rate 110.93 MB/Sec 109.92 MB/Sec
Process Data IOPS 2841.13 IOPS 2907.47 IOPS

According to the performance results, Server 2012 achieves better results in 7 out of 18 tests including: Disk Read IOPS, Disk Average Request Time, Disk Average Read Request Time, Disk Average Write Request Time, CPU Usage, Process CPU Usage and Process Data Rate. On the other hand, Server 2012 R2 achieves better results in 11 out of 18 tests including: Disk Transfer Rate, Disk Read Transfer, Disk Write Transfer, Disk Transfer IOPS, Disk Write IOPS, Disk Average Request Size, Disk Average Read Request Size, Disk Average Write Request Size, CPU Usage System, Process Memory Used and Process Data IOPS.

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Transfer Rate
Server 2012131.78 MB/Sec
Server 2012 R2134.33 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 133.06 MB/Sec Min: 13.63 MB/Sec Max: 231.08 MB/Sec

The average Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (134.33 MB/Sec vs. 131.78 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (46.09 MB/Sec vs. 13.63 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 (231.08 MB/Sec vs. 194.02 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Read Transfer
Server 201247.58 MB/Sec
Server 2012 R247.75 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 47.66 MB/Sec Min: 0.00 MB/Sec Max: 95.01 MB/Sec

The average Disk Read Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (47.75 MB/Sec vs. 47.58 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Read Transfer is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Read Transfer is better for Server 2012 (95.01 MB/Sec vs. 93.67 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Write Transfer
Server 201284.20 MB/Sec
Server 2012 R286.58 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 85.39 MB/Sec Min: 13.63 MB/Sec Max: 171.11 MB/Sec

The average Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (86.58 MB/Sec vs. 84.20 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (36.90 MB/Sec vs. 13.63 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 (171.11 MB/Sec vs. 142.54 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Transfer IOPS
Server 20121376.57 IOPS
Server 2012 R21482.02 IOPS
More is Better Average: 1429.30 IOPS Min: 532.51 IOPS Max: 3486.10 IOPS

The average Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (1482.02 IOPS vs. 1376.57 IOPS), the minimum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2012 (618.74 IOPS vs. 532.51 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (3486.10 IOPS vs. 3142.13 IOPS).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Read IOPS
Server 2012230.16 IOPS
Server 2012 R2196.01 IOPS
More is Better Average: 213.08 IOPS Min: 0.00 IOPS Max: 1058.22 IOPS

The average Disk Read IOPS is better for Server 2012 (230.16 IOPS vs. 196.01 IOPS), the minimum Disk Read IOPS is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Read IOPS is better for Server 2012 (1058.22 IOPS vs. 381.54 IOPS).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Write IOPS
Server 20121146.41 IOPS
Server 2012 R21286.01 IOPS
More is Better Average: 1216.21 IOPS Min: 270.93 IOPS Max: 3451.50 IOPS

The average Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (1286.01 IOPS vs. 1146.41 IOPS), the minimum Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2012 (328.65 IOPS vs. 270.93 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (3451.50 IOPS vs. 3142.13 IOPS).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Request Size
Server 2012123.69 KB
Server 2012 R2129.23 KB
More is Better Average: 126.46 KB Min: 9.80 KB Max: 252.85 KB

The average Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (129.23 KB vs. 123.69 KB), the minimum Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (13.54 KB vs. 9.80 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 (252.85 KB vs. 242.45 KB).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Read Request Size
Server 2012209.24 KB
Server 2012 R2218.01 KB
More is Better Average: 213.62 KB Min: 0.00 KB Max: 256.00 KB

The average Disk Average Read Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (218.01 KB vs. 209.24 KB), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Size is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (0.00 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Size is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (256.00 KB).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Write Request Size
Server 2012109.45 KB
Server 2012 R2113.76 KB
More is Better Average: 111.61 KB Min: 9.80 KB Max: 252.90 KB

The average Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (113.76 KB vs. 109.45 KB), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (11.18 KB vs. 9.80 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2012 (252.90 KB vs. 238.48 KB).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Request Time
Server 20123.65 ms.
Server 2012 R23.96 ms.
Less is Better Average: 3.80 ms. Min: 1.16 ms. Max: 9.11 ms.

The average Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2012 (3.65 ms. vs. 3.96 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2012 (1.16 ms. vs. 1.29 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (8.99 ms. vs. 9.11 ms.).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Read Request Time
Server 20123.41 ms.
Server 2012 R24.05 ms.
Less is Better Average: 3.73 ms. Min: 0.00 ms. Max: 16.52 ms.

The average Disk Average Read Request Time is better for Server 2012 (3.41 ms. vs. 4.05 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Time is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (0.00 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Time is better for Server 2012 (6.88 ms. vs. 16.52 ms.).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Disk Average Write Request Time
Server 20123.88 ms.
Server 2012 R24.11 ms.
Less is Better Average: 4.00 ms. Min: 0.84 ms. Max: 10.57 ms.

The average Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2012 (3.88 ms. vs. 4.11 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2012 (0.84 ms. vs. 1.12 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (8.61 ms. vs. 10.57 ms.).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - CPU Usage
Server 20128.33 %
Server 2012 R28.42 %
Less is Better Average: 8.38 % Min: 0.00 % Max: 21.00 %

The average CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 (8.33 % vs. 8.42 %), the minimum CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (0.00 % vs. 1.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 (19.00 % vs. 21.00 %).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - CPU Usage System
Server 20127.92 %
Server 2012 R27.67 %
Less is Better Average: 7.79 % Min: 1.00 % Max: 17.00 %

The average CPU Usage System is better for Server 2012 R2 (7.67 % vs. 7.92 %), the minimum CPU Usage System is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (1.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage System is identical for both Server 2012 and Server 2012 R2 (17.00 %).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Process CPU Usage
Server 201231.87 %
Server 2012 R232.65 %
Less is Better Average: 32.26 % Min: 1.58 % Max: 100.00 %

The average Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 (31.87 % vs. 32.65 %), the minimum Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (1.58 % vs. 3.17 %) and the maximum Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (80.95 % vs. 100.00 %).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Process Memory Used
Server 201211.87 MB
Server 2012 R211.76 MB
Less is Better Average: 11.81 MB Min: 11.02 MB Max: 12.85 MB

The average Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 R2 (11.76 MB vs. 11.87 MB), the minimum Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 (11.02 MB vs. 11.04 MB) and the maximum Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 R2 (12.63 MB vs. 12.85 MB).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Process Data Rate
Server 2012110.93 MB/Sec
Server 2012 R2109.92 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 110.43 MB/Sec Min: 0.00 MB/Sec Max: 317.69 MB/Sec

The average Process Data Rate is better for Server 2012 (110.93 MB/Sec vs. 109.92 MB/Sec), the minimum Process Data Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (14.06 MB/Sec vs. 0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Process Data Rate is better for Server 2012 (317.69 MB/Sec vs. 231.31 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 vs. Server 2012 R2 - Process Data IOPS
Server 20122841.13 IOPS
Server 2012 R22907.47 IOPS
More is Better Average: 2874.30 IOPS Min: 0.00 IOPS Max: 10074.99 IOPS

The average Process Data IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (2907.47 IOPS vs. 2841.13 IOPS), the minimum Process Data IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (198.43 IOPS vs. 0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Process Data IOPS is better for Server 2012 (10074.99 IOPS vs. 9747.33 IOPS).