Storage Network Throughput Calculator
Convert IOPS and block size into storage network throughput and the number of links required.
Inputs
Network Throughput Required
32.400Gbps
Payload Throughput
3,750.0MB/s
Links Required
2links
Utilisation of Those Links
64.80%
Payload Rate before Overhead
30.000Gbps
Step by step
Values used
IOPS = 120,000 IOPS; Average block size = 32 KB; Link speed = 25 Gbps; Protocol overhead = 8 %; Utilisation target per link = 70 %
Storage Network Throughput
MB/s = IOPS × block KB ÷ 1024; required Gbps = MB/s × 8 ÷ 1000 × (1 + protocol overhead); links = ceil(required ÷ (link speed × utilisation target)).
Network Throughput Required
= 32.400 Gbps
Payload Throughput
= 3,750.0 MB/s
Links Required
= 2 links
Utilisation of Those Links
= 64.80
Payload Rate before Overhead
= 30.000 Gbps
How it works
Storage arrays are specified in IOPS but networks are specified in bits per second, and block size is the conversion factor: 120 000 IOPS is 469 MB/s at 4 KB but 3.75 GB/s at 32 KB. Protocol framing and a utilisation target then determine how many links carry it. Most storage performance complaints are actually network saturation, and this shows whether the array's rated IOPS can even fit down the installed links.
Formula
Storage Network Throughput
MB/s = IOPS × block KB ÷ 1024; required Gbps = MB/s × 8 ÷ 1000 × (1 + protocol overhead); links = ceil(required ÷ (link speed × utilisation target)).
- block size
- Average I/O size — 4–8 KB for databases, 64 KB or more for backup
- protocol overhead
- iSCSI, NVMe/TCP or NFS framing on top of the payload
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Storage Network Throughput calculated?
MB/s = IOPS × block KB ÷ 1024; required Gbps = MB/s × 8 ÷ 1000 × (1 + protocol overhead); links = ceil(required ÷ (link speed × utilisation target)). Storage arrays are specified in IOPS but networks are specified in bits per second, and block size is the conversion factor: 120 000 IOPS is 469 MB/s at 4 KB but 3.75 GB/s at 32 KB. Protocol framing and a utilisation target then determine how many links carry it.
Why does Storage Network Throughput matter?
Most storage performance complaints are actually network saturation, and this shows whether the array's rated IOPS can even fit down the installed links.
What values do I need to enter?
This calculator takes 5 inputs: IOPS, Average block size, Link speed, Protocol overhead, Utilisation target per link. The pre-filled defaults are a realistic starting point — replace them with figures from your own environment for a result you can act on.