Looking for advice on new HD controller

[williamlee]

Hi all-

I'm looking for some advice on a new HD controller that would be good in both a Linux (Ubuntu currently) and a OpenIndiana ZFS environment.

Here is some additional background:

This is for a home server environment. I have a Ubuntu box running multiple MD arrays in a Norco case. One of the controllers in this box was a Highpoint RR 2680 that has given up the ghost. I am looking for a relatively cheap replacement controller that is 6GB/s with 2 mini-SAS ports (to fan out to SATA) and that ideally has high compatibility with both Linux and OpenIndiana (and BSD would be nice also). It will be going into the Ubuntu box, but I also run a separate OI ZFS box, so it would be nice to have flexibility of swapping it out to that in the future.

I do NOT need a hardware RAID controller, although if that comes a long for the ride that's ok. This controller will be used as JBOD no matter what application I am using it in.

I was considering a LSI Internal SATA/SAS 9211-8i but am open.

Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[drescherjm]

My advice is to look for a rebagged LSI SATA/SAS 9211-8i on eBay for $100. There are several models from Dell, IBM ...

Edit: Hmm. There are a few LSI SATA/SAS 9211-8i for $100 on eBay.

 

[MrMike]

9211-8i is the right choice.

 

[williamlee]

Thanks for the replies...Anything I should be aware of when choosing between vendors for the 9211-8i on eBay (i.e. Dell versus IBM versus LSI, etc.)

 

[drescherjm]

I would just get one the LSI ones if they are a similar price.