NAS Performance Benchmarks - Link Aggregation

So we mentioned that this NAS has multiple Ethernet jacks, these can be used for pairing / binding . Link aggregation. Now as a consumer actually using this options is a difficult thing as many variables need to be right and your Ethernet jacks compatible. Some Intel NICs do allow it on Windows 7/8/10 but mostly this is a feature intended for Windows server and most Linux builds. To be able to use bonding, you will also need a compatible (managed) switch (we ended up with a enterprise class HP ProCurve).
  

 
The AS-6208T allows its four gigabit Ethernet ports to be bonded together and used as a single connection, in order to get four times the usual gigabit speed when performing a single file transfer, your network switch must support both 802.3ad link aggregation and LACP, or dynamic link aggregation. Most modern managed switches support 802.3ad, but not all support LACP.
 

Assign which port (and you can setup two also) is assigned a separate IP address. When they're bonded together software, the unit only needs a single address, but you'll only get standard gigabit speeds via any single transfer.

Then pairing connections together in Windows isn't easy either. The only modern operating system that allows this native is Windows Server 2012. Otherwise, you'll need to use cards that support link aggregation in the drivers.

For 4 link aggregation we ran into all kinds of issues for a single PC and ended up using separated 4 gigabit links and tested both on the SSD and 3xHDD RAID5 unit. To get 4 Gigabit links tested we simply used four PCs who each read or write the 30 GB file. Below you can see the performance results. 

How much easier would life be if the industry would simply move towards 10 GBe interfaces, eh? As easy as the adoption for 10/100 towards 1,000 Mbit/s has been, so incredibly long it takes for 10 Gigabit Ethernet to become mainstream. With today's single Gigabit connection you cannot even stress a HDD high enough.