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Moving Raid5 Array to different controller

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rottweiler

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
May 13, 2000
Messages
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What is the easiest way to move data from a raid5 array to a different controller.
I am building a new computer, and want all the data on my current raid5 array, but I will not be keeping the 3ware card.
I'm not yet sure if I'll be doing another raid5 or JBOD, but I will be using the onboard controller.
I'm thinking about getting the MSI K8N neo4 Platinum.

First, is it possible, and/or feasible to do before I finish building my new system?
Could I put a new drive or two in my current system as regular sata drives, backup the data, and then put them in my new system when it's built.
I think doing it this way will not allow me to set up a raid5 or JBOD without having to put the data somewhere else again.
The other option I thought of was building my new system and moving the 3ware card with the raid5 drives attached to the new system, and copying the data over.
Since I'm selling my old system, this would prolong the wait my buyer(s) would have since I'd have to finish building my new system first.
Is there another option I'm not thinking of?

Also, what drive(s) should I get for my new system?
I might have 2x36GB raptors for my OS, if I don't sell them, or just another small drive, 120GB or so SATA.
But for my storage/backup drive(s), I was thinking of getting more 200GB seagates and using the onboard controller for raid5 or JBOD.
I want about 400GB, or more, space, what do you all think is the most cost effective solution?

Thanks
 
Backup the data regardless. That way if you can transfer the array intact (easy enough if you keep the controller, unlikely otherwise) then you're all good, and if it doesn't go smoothly you can just restore from backup.

I'm a bit prejudiced against onboard devices. Unless your 3ware card is VERY dated, it's going to kick the ass of any onboard RAID controller you can find. 3ware's not the absolute best controller company around, but they're pretty high up there. Plus you can just transfer the card and keep the array intact, and do the same again whenever you replace the new system, etc etc. PCI Express is neat and all, but given the number of non-graphics devices around for it (probably wouldn't even need your toes for that one) unlikely to completely replace PCI any time soon, and PCI-X is another thing entirely.

160/200GB SATA drives are pretty cheap. Seagate & Hitachi are nice, but just about anything goes. If you're planning on adding them into the existing RAID 5 you may have to rebuild the array and restore from backup anyway, unless your controller supports online capacity expansion or similar markitecture.
 
Yea, I'm wondering what you would replace a 3ware card with, or if you're out of room.

The copying RAID array to RAID array (either in the new computer or the old computer) would be the best option. You'd have to procure enough HDs to make sure you have enough room to facilitate the copy though (perhaps buy 3 300GB HDs, sell the 200s, and buy one or more 300GB HDs).
 
It's a great card, I know that, but I am not going to use it enough to reap the rewards.
I'm going to have a raptor, or 2 in raid 0, for my OS and games.
And a few drives in raid 5 or a JBOD for backup and storage.
I don't need the onboard processor because I'm not going to be transferring data to those drives while I'm running other CPU intensive operations.
Sometime, probably 5-10 years down the road, I'll get an awsome raid card again to set up a real home server, but until then, an onboard controller will be enough for me.
I can buy a great gaming video card for what I can sell this card for, and that's what I'm doing, sorta.

BTW, when I bought it, others made me believe it was the best, that was about 10 months ago.
What is the best raid card now?

I was thinking about the 200GB seagates because the 5yr warranty is nice, and the price/gb ratio is pretty good, but maybe 250GB seagates are a slightly better price/gb ratio.

Thanks for the help.
 
rottweiler said:
BTW, when I bought it, others made me believe it was the best, that was about 10 months ago.
What is the best raid card now?
Click to expand...
What card is this? I know it's a 3ware, but that's pretty broad.

I'd recommend the Areca line. They're much faster in sequential reads/writes than the 3ware, and not far behind on the random reads/writes.
 
i'm lookin for a new raid card, and would like to have it in RAID5 and pull about 120+ MB/s PCI interface for now. I have one now that pulls 85MB/s RAID0

i would like to know what kind of card your 3ware is and what kind of speed you get out of it. If you need software to test it with i might be able to help just pm me.

edit: i can get as many drives as it takes to make my new RAID5 card hit 120 mark or close to it i just want a card that can do raid5 at that speed i dont know if that is even realistic or not
 
ashmedai:
Backup the data regardless. That way if you can transfer the array intact (easy enough if you keep the controller, unlikely otherwise) then you're all good, and if it doesn't go smoothly you can just restore from backup.

I'm a bit prejudiced against onboard devices. Unless your 3ware card is VERY dated, it's going to kick the ass of any onboard RAID controller you can find. 3ware's not the absolute best controller company around, but they're pretty high up there. Plus you can just transfer the card and keep the array intact, and do the same again whenever you replace the new system, etc etc. PCI Express is neat and all, but given the number of non-graphics devices around for it (probably wouldn't even need your toes for that one) unlikely to completely replace PCI any time soon, and PCI-X is another thing entirely.

160/200GB SATA drives are pretty cheap. Seagate & Hitachi are nice, but just about anything goes. If you're planning on adding them into the existing RAID 5 you may have to rebuild the array and restore from backup anyway, unless your controller supports online capacity expansion or similar markitecture
Click to expand...

well i just thought that i would point out that my buddies neo2platinum onboard nvidia raid0 pulls 110 MB/s eg 250Gb WD SATA x2
 
It's in my sig
3Ware 9500S-8
I've never tested it for speed, what software is used for that?
I can tell you the Sandra score tonight.
But I might already have a buyer for mine.

Formula383 said:
well i just thought that i would point out that my buddies neo2platinum onboard nvidia raid pulls 110 MB/s eg 250Gb WD SATA x2
Click to expand...
If there are only 2 drives, then that's not raid5, like Formula383 was asking about
 
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