How to Benchmark Linux Server Disk I/O with FIO

Episode 36 of Linux Server Admin with Fexingo dives into disk I/O benchmarking with FIO. Lucas and Luna walk through a real-world scenario: a database server showing intermittent slow queries, traced to unexpected I/O latency. They explain how to install FIO, construct a basic random-read/write test, interpret the output (IOPS, latency percentiles, bandwidth), and compare against expected performance for SSDs and HDDs. The episode covers why default test parameters can mislead, how to match workloads (e.g., 4K random vs. 64K sequential), and a simple three-run methodology for reliable baselines. Specific numbers include typical NVMe IOPS (500k+ random read), SATA SSD thresholds (80k IOPS), and how to spot controller saturation. No fluff—just practical steps to benchmark before tuning or blaming hardware. #Linux #Sysadmin #ServerEngineering #DiskIO #FIO #Benchmarking #StoragePerformance #IOPS #Latency #DatabasePerformance #NVMe #SSD #ServerTuning #Technology #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LinuxServerAdmin #PerformanceTuning Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo