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Thoughts on 6x200GB RAID Array?

S

snatch

n00b
Joined
May 8, 2001
Messages
36
Well, I've got six 200GB brand spanking new WD hard drives sitting here just waiting to be abused, and I have a few questions.
My current plan is to slap my system full of ATA 100 cards and do software RAID in either Windows or Linux. The problem is that the Promise cards that come with the WD drives only support having 2 cards in the system, so I gotta buy one from another manufacturer (not a big deal).

Here are my questions:

1. Is a "hardware" RAID card worth the extra cash? This server will be for serving up DVD's and MP3's, so I won't be taxing the array read output very much. My concern here is one of reliability rather than speed.

2. My understanding of RAID 3 is that it is RAID 0 with a parity disk, rather than RAID 5, which distributes parity across all drives. Is it possible to just have JBOD with parity? This would make expanding the array quite easy.....

3. Can anyone point me to a site that specifies the recommended cooling requirements for hard drives? I have a case with 7 fans blowing air all over the drives, but I'd feel better if I knew what the temps should be.

Cheers!!!
 
Raid 5 is easy to add a drive to for expanding the array, a little harder to replace exsisting drives with larger drives though. (but I have done both)

I think Hardware Raid is worth it, but that is up to you.

3Ware and Promise SX series are your best options. (I would choose a 3Ware card) Adaptec is not bad, but pricy and usually a little slower.

==>Lazn
 
If the server is just for data storage and has a decent processor in it, you should be ok with software RAID5 (whether through the OS or something like the newer Highpoint controllers). Hardware RAID5 is pretty nice though. If you go that route, look into the 3Ware or Promise offerings as Lazn suggested. I have used the Adaptec 2400A and personally did not like it (slow, tempermental, a bit flaky).
 
If it's just a fileserver, or only does really light work (print server, that sort of stuff) software raid 5 should be ok.
Keep in mind the "pro" and "home" versions of windows don't do raid 5 in software, so you'll need server or Linux.
Personally I'd just get a controller, particularly if you're using the drives on a workstation. I've got a 3Ware card here at work, which is quite nice.
 
i'd go with a hardware solution because it would make moving the drives to another setup easier. just move the card to the new system and you're done.
 
Originally posted by LittleMe
i'd go with a hardware solution because it would make moving the drives to another setup easier. just move the card to the new system and you're done.
Click to expand...

Is that really the case? My main concern here is not one of performance. I'm going to be streaming DVD's off this RAID array. so hard drive throughput won't be a bottleneck. I'm setting up a RAID array because I don't want to have to redo anything if I lose a drive (although the data isn't mission critical).

So what I'm looking for is reliability and ease of replacing a failed drive (or moving the array if some other system component fails). My concern with a hardware RAID card is that if the card fails then I lose everything, right?
 
When the card dies ... you'll have to replace it with the same card ... data is still there
 
Originally posted by snatch
Is that really the case? My main concern here is not one of performance. I'm going to be streaming DVD's off this RAID array. so hard drive throughput won't be a bottleneck. I'm setting up a RAID array because I don't want to have to redo anything if I lose a drive (although the data isn't mission critical).

So what I'm looking for is reliability and ease of replacing a failed drive (or moving the array if some other system component fails). My concern with a hardware RAID card is that if the card fails then I lose everything, right?
Click to expand...

Pretty much yes. Drivers for the rest of the components will be wrong, but the drivers for the array will still be correct, in all likelyhood the system will just boot. You can consider the Hardware controller and all the drives as one single HardDrive logically. If the card fails, you have to replace it with an identical card is all.

Software raid on the other hand, you would be less likely to get away with moving the array intact.

Usually though you don't move arrays between comptuers without rebuilding from scratch.

==>Lazn
 
slightly off topic, but isn't it redundant to say "RAID array", since the A stands for array? I find myself doing it too...
 
Originally posted by conscript
slightly off topic, but isn't it redundant to say "RAID array", since the A stands for array? I find myself doing it too...
Click to expand...

Yes, but it is because so many people are now running LEET RAID 0 setups on their gaming machines, that when talking about a server setup, we want to be sure to differentiate. (at least that is when I use it that way)

==>Lazn
 
I highly recommend the SuperTrak SX6000. It can be had (used) for relatively reasonable prices, supports 6 drive RAID 5 and has a DIMM slot which can address 256MB of RAM which does wonders for RW performance.

RAID5 is a dog without a dedicated processor. The SX6000 has a 100MHz i960.
 
Originally posted by TerryMathews
I highly recommend the SuperTrak SX6000. It can be had (used) for relatively reasonable prices, supports 6 drive RAID 5 and has a DIMM slot which can address 256MB of RAM which does wonders for RW performance.

RAID5 is a dog without a dedicated processor. The SX6000 has a 100MHz i960.
Click to expand...

Do you have one ?
 
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