15+ drive storage system using addonics products?

[theinv]

Has anyone here tried addonics products?

It looks like they have all the parts needed to build a flexible storage system.

For example, you can build a 15 drive tower using

-- 1 x storage tower IX http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/st_series.asp
-- 3 x 5 port sata multipler http://www.addonics.com/products/host_controller/AD5HPMSXA.asp
-- 3 x 5-in-3 disk array http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/ae4rcs35nsa.asp


And here are some sample configurations

parts:
-----------
addonics storage tower IX ( 9 x 5.25 bay)

http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/st_series.asp

5 port hardware SATA port multiplier

http://www.addonics.com/products/host_controller/AD5HPMSXA.asp

Disc array

 

[alamone]

Problem is, at $99 a pop the port multiplers are not cost effective.

You're better off getting a SAS expander for $200-300, which can connect to more drives and uses a sturdy lockable mini-SAS connector instead of multiple flimsy eSATA cables that can dislodge and kill your array. Plus, performance on the SAS expander will be better. You'll have to pay a bit more for a SAS raid card and cabling.

I used to use port multipliers but I since upgraded to SAS and the performance is much better. On the port multiplier I could never go beyond about 120MB/sec but on SAS expander I can get around 300-400MB/sec.

 

[theinv]

Problem is, at $99 a pop the port multiplers are not cost effective.

You're better off getting a SAS expander for $200-300, which can connect to more drives and uses a sturdy lockable mini-SAS connector instead of multiple flimsy eSATA cables that can dislodge and kill your array. Plus, performance on the SAS expander will be better. You'll have to pay a bit more for a SAS raid card and cabling.

I used to use port multipliers but I since upgraded to SAS and the performance is much better. On the port multiplier I could never go beyond about 120MB/sec but on SAS expander I can get around 300-400MB/sec.

Do you mean these SAS expanders? They are very expensive.


http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sas+expander&x=0&y=0


Also, it is hard to find SAS hard drives

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010150014%201035917796&name=Serial%20Attached%20SCSI%20%28SAS%29

 

[Dangman]

Ok, you definitely missed alamone's entire recommendation. Ok he's recommending that you use a controller card that uses SAS expanders which allows you to use multiple SATA drives. Like for example this card from your link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...085&cm_re=sas_expander-_-16-103-085-_-Product

Note the red cable. That's a SAS to SATA cable or SAS expander (IIRC) that lets you use multiple drives off one cable/port. Similar to the port multipliers but SAS expanders offers significantly greater performance. You also don't need to use SAS drives either.

Here's a list of controller cards/SAS expanders:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...ption=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&srchInDesc=