Dual channel U320 Raid controller

[sandmanx]

At work I have an 14 disk Storcase infostation II with 8 36GB Seagate 10K drives. This setup crashed and all data was lost and had to be restored from backups earlier this week. I'm currently waiting on Kingston(makers of Storcase) to let me know how to check the hardware in our storcase, but I suspect that the controller card may be the problem.

I'm currently using an Adaptec 3210S dual channel controller card. Since I think this may be bad, I'm looking around for U320 dual channel cards that support Raid 5 to replace it, and I'd like one that runs on W2K3 x64 Server and is PCI-X(133Mhz preferred). The only card I've found so far is the Adaptec 2230SLP. I'd like to keep the price as low as possible, and this card is going for $625 on amazon, and I haven't checked around elsewhere yet. Are there any other cards that might be in this segment that anyone could recommend?


Cliffs:
- Think Adaptec 3210S Raid controller is on it's way out
- Need dual channel U320 SCSI Raid 5 capable card

 

[naro]

u might want to try LSI 320-2..

or even Dell Perc 4/DC cards on ebay.

 

[sandmanx]

I didn't even think about a Perc 4/DC, and I have one of those in another server here. I might be able to use that and move some services around. Thanks!

 

[2CPU]

I would recommend a LSI card. 320-2, 320-2X, or 320-2E are fine. Since you have a PCI-X slot, I think 320-2X is the best for you. 320-2 is the cheapest one though.

However, before you jump into any conclusion about if the Adaptec 3210S is bad, you should test it. That your disk array crashed does not necessarily mean there is a problem with either the enclosure or the controller. It could be a hard drive problem, or power problem, or others. Before you find out what the real problem is, do not rush into buying a new controller.