Benchmarking BeeGFS and OpenZFS Performance

This white paper presents a detailed benchmarking study of the BeeGFS parallel file system and OpenZFS, specifically utilizing the Western Digital OpenFlex Data24 NVMe-oF storage system. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance improvements achieved when ZFS was tuned for optimal performance, resulting in a notable increase in read/write bandwidth by 4X-5X without negatively impacting the storage system. The document outlines the infrastructure used for benchmarking, including the configuration of BeeGFS client and host servers, the storage platform, and the specific NVMe SSDs employed. It also describes the methodology for performance measurement, including the use of the IOR benchmark for testing parallel storage systems. The results of the benchmarking are documented, showcasing the performance metrics achieved under various configurations and conditions. Additionally, the paper discusses the architecture of the BeeGFS and OpenZFS systems, highlighting their capabilities in high-performance computing environments.