megaraid 9240 hardware?

[sdadept]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816118128

this is more of their entry level card, but it's $304. Is this a 'true hardware' raid solution? I am buying a 2u case that has two 8087 ports for two rows of hot swap x4 drive bays. I want to put 6 sata hard drives in those port and run raid 5 by connecting two 8087 cables from the card to them. However, due to the fact that several vm's will be running on this, the raid performance needs to be really nice. I'll spend more if I have to, but I don't want to go crazy. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[Metaluna]

Is this a 'true hardware' raid solution?

Highly doubtful. All their hardware RAID cards mention "Raid on Chip (ROC)" in the specs. Looking at the product description on their website, this one doesn't mention ROC anywhere.

Check this link:
http://www.lsi.com/storage_home/products_home/internal_raid/megaraid_sas/entry_line/index.html

Notice "Host based XOR" in the feature list.

 

[Blue Fox]

If you want hardware RAID, you're looking at the 9260. The 9240 should still offer better performance than the usual on-board RAID however.

 

[sdadept]

also considering this one but I've never had really good luck with highpoint. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=16-115-056

 

[Metaluna]

also considering this one but I've never had really good luck with highpoint. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=16-115-056

There's also the 3ware 9750-8i for $499. I believe this is identical to the LSI 9260-8i. Probably worth $90 more over the Highpoint.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=16-116-107

 

[sdadept]

Meta, I was considering that one. I saw someone post that 3ware drivers weren't being kept updated so I worry a bit about that. I might just spend the extra to get the LSI card and keep it for the long term.