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Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 iSCSI Performance

The purpose of this review is to compare the iSCSI performance of Windows Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016. 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 R2 operating system and the second one running the Server 2016 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 2012 R2Server 2016
Disk Transfer Rate 134.33 MB/Sec 114.96 MB/Sec
Disk Read Transfer 47.75 MB/Sec 41.26 MB/Sec
Disk Write Transfer 86.58 MB/Sec 73.69 MB/Sec
Disk Transfer IOPS 1482.02 IOPS 1724.56 IOPS
Disk Read IOPS 196.01 IOPS 490.71 IOPS
Disk Write IOPS 1286.01 IOPS 1233.85 IOPS
Disk Average Request Size 129.23 KB 108.73 KB
Disk Average Read Request Size 218.01 KB 127.18 KB
Disk Average Write Request Size 113.76 KB 110.34 KB
Disk Average Request Time 3.96 ms. 4.09 ms.
Disk Average Read Request Time 4.05 ms. 3.27 ms.
Disk Average Write Request Time 4.11 ms. 4.64 ms.
CPU Usage 8.42 % 7.07 %
CPU Usage System 7.67 % 6.61 %
Process CPU Usage 32.65 % 26.26 %
Process Memory Used 11.76 MB 11.94 MB
Process Data Rate 109.92 MB/Sec 84.42 MB/Sec
Process Data IOPS 2907.47 IOPS 2312.40 IOPS

According to the performance results, Server 2012 R2 achieves better results in 12 out of 18 tests including: Disk Transfer Rate, Disk Read Transfer, Disk Write Transfer, Disk Write IOPS, Disk Average Request Size, Disk Average Read Request Size, Disk Average Write Request Size, Disk Average Request Time, Disk Average Write Request Time, Process Memory Used, Process Data Rate and Process Data IOPS. On the other hand, Server 2016 achieves better results in 6 out of 18 tests including: Disk Transfer IOPS, Disk Read IOPS, Disk Average Read Request Time, CPU Usage, CPU Usage System and Process CPU Usage.

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Transfer Rate
Server 2012 R2134.33 MB/Sec
Server 2016114.96 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 124.65 MB/Sec Min: 21.71 MB/Sec Max: 194.02 MB/Sec

The average Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (134.33 MB/Sec vs. 114.96 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (46.09 MB/Sec vs. 21.71 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Transfer Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (194.02 MB/Sec vs. 174.41 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Read Transfer
Server 2012 R247.75 MB/Sec
Server 201641.26 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 44.50 MB/Sec Min: 0.00 MB/Sec Max: 93.67 MB/Sec

The average Disk Read Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (47.75 MB/Sec vs. 41.26 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Read Transfer is identical for both Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016 (0.00 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Read Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (93.67 MB/Sec vs. 86.77 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Write Transfer
Server 2012 R286.58 MB/Sec
Server 201673.69 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 80.13 MB/Sec Min: 21.71 MB/Sec Max: 142.54 MB/Sec

The average Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (86.58 MB/Sec vs. 73.69 MB/Sec), the minimum Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (36.90 MB/Sec vs. 21.71 MB/Sec) and the maximum Disk Write Transfer is better for Server 2012 R2 (142.54 MB/Sec vs. 118.16 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Transfer IOPS
Server 2012 R21482.02 IOPS
Server 20161724.56 IOPS
More is Better Average: 1603.29 IOPS Min: 436.86 IOPS Max: 4563.53 IOPS

The average Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2016 (1724.56 IOPS vs. 1482.02 IOPS), the minimum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (532.51 IOPS vs. 436.86 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Transfer IOPS is better for Server 2016 (4563.53 IOPS vs. 3486.10 IOPS).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Read IOPS
Server 2012 R2196.01 IOPS
Server 2016490.71 IOPS
More is Better Average: 343.36 IOPS Min: 0.00 IOPS Max: 2139.73 IOPS

The average Disk Read IOPS is better for Server 2016 (490.71 IOPS vs. 196.01 IOPS), the minimum Disk Read IOPS is identical for both Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016 (0.00 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Read IOPS is better for Server 2016 (2139.73 IOPS vs. 381.54 IOPS).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Write IOPS
Server 2012 R21286.01 IOPS
Server 20161233.85 IOPS
More is Better Average: 1259.93 IOPS Min: 237.73 IOPS Max: 4563.53 IOPS

The average Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (1286.01 IOPS vs. 1233.85 IOPS), the minimum Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (270.93 IOPS vs. 237.73 IOPS) and the maximum Disk Write IOPS is better for Server 2016 (4563.53 IOPS vs. 3451.50 IOPS).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Request Size
Server 2012 R2129.23 KB
Server 2016108.73 KB
More is Better Average: 118.98 KB Min: 11.64 KB Max: 242.45 KB

The average Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (129.23 KB vs. 108.73 KB), the minimum Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (13.54 KB vs. 11.64 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (242.45 KB vs. 229.20 KB).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Read Request Size
Server 2012 R2218.01 KB
Server 2016127.18 KB
More is Better Average: 172.59 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. 127.18 KB), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Size is identical for both Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016 (0.00 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (256.00 KB vs. 250.23 KB).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Write Request Size
Server 2012 R2113.76 KB
Server 2016110.34 KB
More is Better Average: 112.05 KB Min: 11.18 KB Max: 238.48 KB

The average Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (113.76 KB vs. 110.34 KB), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2016 (11.43 KB vs. 11.18 KB) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Size is better for Server 2012 R2 (238.48 KB vs. 233.16 KB).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Request Time
Server 2012 R23.96 ms.
Server 20164.09 ms.
Less is Better Average: 4.03 ms. Min: 0.50 ms. Max: 9.81 ms.

The average Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (3.96 ms. vs. 4.09 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2016 (0.50 ms. vs. 1.29 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (8.99 ms. vs. 9.81 ms.).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Read Request Time
Server 2012 R24.05 ms.
Server 20163.27 ms.
Less is Better Average: 3.66 ms. Min: 0.00 ms. Max: 16.52 ms.

The average Disk Average Read Request Time is better for Server 2016 (3.27 ms. vs. 4.05 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Read Request Time is identical for both Server 2012 R2 and Server 2016 (0.00 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Read Request Time is better for Server 2016 (9.06 ms. vs. 16.52 ms.).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Disk Average Write Request Time
Server 2012 R24.11 ms.
Server 20164.64 ms.
Less is Better Average: 4.38 ms. Min: 0.69 ms. Max: 11.56 ms.

The average Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (4.11 ms. vs. 4.64 ms.), the minimum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2016 (0.69 ms. vs. 1.12 ms.) and the maximum Disk Average Write Request Time is better for Server 2012 R2 (8.61 ms. vs. 11.56 ms.).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - CPU Usage
Server 2012 R28.42 %
Server 20167.07 %
Less is Better Average: 7.75 % Min: 0.00 % Max: 22.00 %

The average CPU Usage is better for Server 2016 (7.07 % vs. 8.42 %), the minimum CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (0.00 % vs. 2.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (21.00 % vs. 22.00 %).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - CPU Usage System
Server 2012 R27.67 %
Server 20166.61 %
Less is Better Average: 7.14 % Min: 1.00 % Max: 20.00 %

The average CPU Usage System is better for Server 2016 (6.61 % vs. 7.67 %), the minimum CPU Usage System is better for Server 2012 R2 (1.00 % vs. 3.00 %) and the maximum CPU Usage System is better for Server 2012 R2 (17.00 % vs. 20.00 %).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Process CPU Usage
Server 2012 R232.65 %
Server 201626.26 %
Less is Better Average: 29.45 % Min: 1.42 % Max: 100.00 %

The average Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2016 (26.26 % vs. 32.65 %), the minimum Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2016 (1.42 % vs. 1.58 %) and the maximum Process CPU Usage is better for Server 2012 R2 (80.95 % vs. 100.00 %).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Process Memory Used
Server 2012 R211.76 MB
Server 201611.94 MB
Less is Better Average: 11.85 MB Min: 11.04 MB Max: 12.80 MB

The average Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 R2 (11.76 MB vs. 11.94 MB), the minimum Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 R2 (11.04 MB vs. 11.07 MB) and the maximum Process Memory Used is better for Server 2012 R2 (12.63 MB vs. 12.80 MB).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Process Data Rate
Server 2012 R2109.92 MB/Sec
Server 201684.42 MB/Sec
More is Better Average: 97.17 MB/Sec Min: 0.00 MB/Sec Max: 231.31 MB/Sec

The average Process Data Rate is better for Server 2012 R2 (109.92 MB/Sec vs. 84.42 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 R2 (231.31 MB/Sec vs. 176.04 MB/Sec).

Server 2012 R2 vs. Server 2016 - Process Data IOPS
Server 2012 R22907.47 IOPS
Server 20162312.40 IOPS
More is Better Average: 2609.93 IOPS Min: 0.00 IOPS Max: 10943.31 IOPS

The average Process Data IOPS is better for Server 2012 R2 (2907.47 IOPS vs. 2312.40 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 2016 (10943.31 IOPS vs. 9747.33 IOPS).