Illumine IT disk-benchmark

What Illumine IT disk-benchmark is

Illumine IT disk-benchmark is a free, open-source C command-line program for measuring storage performance on Linux and Windows. It benchmarks hard drives, SSDs, SAN disks, HBAs, RAID adapters, and storage controllers, and can test physical or virtual disks whether they are local or remote. Multiple threads simulate concurrent reads and writes. Sequential tests can be configured with random file sizes or delays, write-only mode, and adjustable read and write buffers. Results include per-thread and average read/write timings, summary results, and CPU and wall time. The program can print values in a format suited to spreadsheets and show system I/O information to help choose buffer sizes. Continuous runs are described for monitoring cloud-drive QoS, disk replication, and active/passive RAID swaps. Linux build instructions call for GCC and POSIX Threads; the Windows README describes building with TDM-GCC and offers a 64-bit binary download. Continuous tests with many threads, large files, and no delay can fill the tested disk and cause high CPU load. The project lists Michael Mountrakis as author and Illumine IT Consulting as its maker.

Who it suits

It suits users who want a free command-line tool for sequential storage benchmarks across local or remote physical and virtual disks. It may also suit administrators monitoring storage behavior over continuous runs, provided they account for the disk-fill and CPU-load warning.

Limits

The listed benchmark scope excludes random I/O, IOPS, and latency measurement. Continuous tests with many threads, large files, and no delay can fill the tested disk and cause high CPU load.

Getting started

1. Open the project website on GitHub.
2. For Linux, build with GCC; POSIX Threads is the listed dependency.
3. For Windows, use the described TDM-GCC build route or download the 64-bit binary.
4. Run sequential benchmarks with the desired file-size, delay, write-only, and buffer options.

Verdict

Choose Illumine IT disk-benchmark for free sequential tests, configurable concurrent workloads, and command-line output. Look elsewhere if random I/O, IOPS, or latency measurements are required. Use care with continuous runs configured with many threads, large files, and no delay.