Fedora Core 4 <> Promise RAID controller ---RANT!

[rodsfree]

Sorry Guys but I have to get this off my chest.

Promise RAID controllers aren't supported in Linux since kernel 2.4...we're now at 2.6+
And Promise hasn't built a decent set of drivers - but they'll give you a partial sorce code set.

[bitching]

ashdhadh;oahew;ahisd;fha;shdof;ha;woeijfgans;dongf;aksndergfnaw;oeinf;flzksnDfonA:SNd
(breathe)
f;lknas;dof;asjdf'jas'difgs;andgls;ndgoia;w era;sdfgioashfgoaersfngrao:We4shj
(breathe)
t09w4jt0rpogjdpojg asdf gdfgb'zndgf ]JSgd oaertgwrngfa/gf

[/bitching]



Now...
Anybody have any ideas on how I can get a Promise TX 100 onboard RAID controller running in Fedora Core 4 - or any other distro.

I really don't want to buy Windows 2003 Server - that'll cost more than all the hardware in the case.

Thanks -

 

[unhappy_mage]

1) Can you not access disks, or just not access RAIDs? If you can get to disks, you can
2) Use software raid instead. That card is software only IIRC, so you don't lose anything. Linux software raid is more stable, faster, and cheaper than any other solution I've worked with.
3
) If you do want to use software raid, but the Promise card isn't working, you can get a cheap card based on the silicon image 0680 chipset. I'm using one of these with raid 1 with no problems. Plenty fast, plenty good, about $30.

 

[rodsfree]

What I want is RAID 0+1...in hardware.
This mobo has 1 PCI-X slot open - but that style card is not cheap.

Any Ideas?

 

[longblock454]

What I want is RAID 0+1...in hardware.
This mobo has 1 PCI-X slot open - but that style card is not cheap.

Any Ideas?

Well, I am using the Highpoint RocketRaid 2220 with FC4, no problems. It is raid5, 0 and 1 for about $250. SATAII and 8 ports, software XOR but my 600Mhz PIII doesn't have any problems.

 

[unhappy_mage]

0+1 in hardware will gain you almost nothing. The overhead for doing raid 0 and 1 is so low that it's often implemented in software on non-raid controllers just to impress the n00bs. Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815104219

This isn't a bad thing; it just means your requirements will be a little cheaper to implement. this or this instead of this. That's my take on it, anyways.

 

[longblock454]

0+1 in hardware will gain you almost nothing. The overhead for doing raid 0 and 1 is so low that it's often implemented in software on non-raid controllers just to impress the n00bs. Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815104219

This isn't a bad thing; it just means your requirements will be a little cheaper to implement. this or this instead of this. That's my take on it, anyways.

Keep in mind that only the first link lists Linux drivers, and they are probably open source build, many times a PITA!

I am not trying to push HighPoint (although I do recommend them), but they have binary drivers for many (including FC1 to FC4) drivers already built. Very easy.

 

[rodsfree]

0+1 in hardware will gain you almost nothing. The overhead for doing raid 0 and 1 is so low that it's often implemented in software on non-raid controllers just to impress the n00bs. Example: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815104219

This isn't a bad thing; it just means your requirements will be a little cheaper to implement. this or this instead of this. That's my take on it, anyways.

You wouldn't know of any benchmarks to support this, would you?
BTW... this game server is put together out of old parts - it's got 4 IDE 40GB WD Drives.

I know, I know SATA is faster....
But when it's a question of using what you've got vs buying new - I'm cheap.