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The SSD write cache did increase speed on my system, but it depends on my file transfer scenario. If I am transferring files directly from my server's drive into DrivePool on that same server, I see my maximum speed of the SSD (about 480 MB/s). If I am transferring files over my home network ethernet (about 30 MB/s), or wifi (? MB/s), or from an attached USB HDD (about 80 MB/s), then even my DrivePool archive HDDs are fast enough to keep up with the transfer. I have set aside 100 GB of my 228 GB SSD as my DrivePool write cache and also use that as a cache for my working temp folders. In that way, the 100 GB SSD cache not only works for DrivePool writes, but also as my system cache for both reads/writes for my temp working folders. In those cases, the SSD cache read/writes at about 480 MB/s whereas just my DrivePool archive HDDs would max out around 80-100 MB/s. So, yes, the SSD can significantly increase your speeds, but it all depends on your specific setup.

DrivePool has a feature called Read Striping, which you can turn on. If the folder is duplicated, DrivePool will read from both drives and that can speed up the read task. If you expand the performance tab, you can see both drives that DrivePool is reading from and the speed at which it is reading. You can almost double the read speed in some transfers. What I see on my system is that DrivePool will read from both my SSD and an archive HDD at the same time, but since the SSD is just so much faster, most of the read data comes from the SSD. I don't know if DrivePool is specifically programmed to recognize the faster drive and use that pipeline first, but in effect that is what I see happening on my system. My read speed, with Read Striping turned on, in those cases is almost exactly the same as the read speed on my SSD. FYI, I only have 1 SSD, so I do not know if DrivePool would Read Strip both of your SSDs and almost double your read speed from the SSDs. Also, in my case, the bottleneck on my transfers is not the DrivePool read speeds, it is the speed of which I can transfer the data over my home network ethernet, the wifi, or to maybe a destination USB HDD. In most of my cases, transfers on my system are slowed down by lots of things but DrivePool is not one of them.

Spider99, Thank you! I found a few explanations and how to "shade tree mechanic" fix it, but this appears to be the least troublesome and easiest way out. You are a hero! When building systems at work cooking up a Nimble Storage Array with 1PB when it's not my money is up my alley. But building on the cheap at home with garage sale parts required more thought. Like playing chess it 4D. It just blows the mind. Now off to find some chassis to house the 3.5" SATA drives as 16 are 2.5" and work flawlessly in the MSA70. Maybe I can get out of the dog house once all of the home movies and family photos are back online. Once again, this forum has saved my bacon and I only hope to become knowledgeable enough to help others as I've been helped. Much appreciate the quick answer! Terry