winsat disk

Applies To: Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista

Measures the performance of a storage device using one of three assessment types:

  • A sequential or random read assessment.

  • A sequential or random write assessment.

  • A write flush policy test.

For examples of how to use this command, see Examples.

Syntax

winsat disk <-seq|-ran> <-read|-write> <-n <disk identification number>|-drive <drive letter>> <optional parameters>
winsat disk flush <-n <disk identification number>|-drive <drive letter>>

Parameters

Important

See the required parameter descriptions for the combination of required parameters that can be used during a single assessment.

Required Parameter Description

-flush

Assess disk performance in write policy flush mode. Cannot be used in combination with -seq, -ran, -write, or -read.

-seq

Assess sequential IO performance. Cannot be used in combination with -ran or -flush.

-ran

Assess random IO performance. Cannot be used in combination with -seq or -flush.

-read

Assess read performance. Cannot be used in combination with -write or -flush.

-write

Assess write performance. Cannot be used in combination with -read or -flush.

-n <disk identification number>

Identify by physical disk identification number which disk should be assessed. Cannot be used in combination with -drive.

-drive <drive letter>

Identify by drive letter which disk should be assessed. Cannot be used in combination with -n.

Note
Do not add a colon to the drive letter. -drive c is valid, but -drive c: is not.

Optional Parameter Description

-count <1-50>

Specify the number of iterations to perform. The default is 1.

-iocount <256-5000>

Specify the number of IO operations that will be issued for the assessment. The default is 256.

-seqsize <65536-1048576>

Specify the size of the IOs that will be issued for a sequential IO assessment in bytes. The default is 65536. Values greater than 1 MB will use 1 MB. Values that are not sector aligned will be rounded down to be sector aligned unless the value is smaller than a sector, in which case it will be rounded up to the sector size.

-ransize <16384-1048576>

Specify the size of the IOs that will be issued for a random IO assessment in bytes. The default is 16384. Values greater than 1 MB will use 1 MB. Values that are not sector aligned will be rounded down to be sector aligned unless the value is smaller than a sector, in which case it will be rounded up to the sector size.

-v

Send verbose output to STDOUT, including status and progress information. Any errors will also be written to the command window.

-xml <file name>

Save the output of the assessment as the specified XML file. If the specified file exists, it will be overwritten.

-idiskinfo

Save information about physical volumes and logical disks as part of the <SystemConfig> section in the XML output.

-iguid

Create a globally unique identifier (GUID) in the XML output file.

-note "note text"

Add the note text to the <note> section in the XML output file.

-icn

Include the local computer name in the XML output file.

-eef

Enumerate extra system information in the XML output file.

Examples

  • The following example assesses the sequential I/O read performance of drive C:

    winsat disk -seq -read -drive c
    
  • The following example assesses the random I/O write performance of drive number 2:

    winsat disk -ran -write -n 2
    
  • The following example assesses the flush performance of drive C:

    winsat disk -flush -drive c
    

Remarks

  • Membership in the local Administrators group, or equivalent, is the minimum required to use winsat. The command must be executed from an elevated command prompt window.

  • To open an elevated command prompt window, click Start, click Accessories, right-click Command Prompt, and click Run as administrator.

Additional references

Winsat