USB 3.0/ESATA for FreeNAS/Linux

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lordsegan

Gawd
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Jun 16, 2004
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I am looking to setup a ZFS file server, and I may use FreeNas. I will be using some sort of Linux distro obviously.

The mobo I am looking at is a C204 server mobo with 6 internal SATA connectors.

Without spending a ton of money, (ie under $100), what are my best options to get fast external connectivity for a backup hard drive? USB 3.0 card? SATA card?

I would rather preserve all 6 internal sata connectors for vdevs (storage drives) if possible.

I plan to use the 6 internals for main online storage and the added in (non mobo) ESATA port for "offline" backup via external HDD.
 
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You don't need an esata interface per-se - there is no electrical difference, AFAIK. You can get an esata/sata adapter, connect it to the end of a regular sata cable, plug that in the mobo, and hang the esata end out a slot on the back of the case?
 
danswartz said:
You don't need an esata interface per-se - there is no electrical difference, AFAIK. You can get an esata/sata adapter, connect it to the end of a regular sata cable, plug that in the mobo, and hang the esata end out a slot on the back of the case?
Click to expand...

Geeze... I said I don't want to use the internals.

I guess I am really asking for a cheap ESATA card that works with Open Solaris.... to be more specific.
 
I forgot you wanted to save the internal ports, but that isn't really germane to my point. I read your OP as referring to the storage, not the controller. As far as this: "Geeze... I said I don't want to use the internals. " being a dick to people trying to help you is a good way to not get help. I came *that* close to telling you to F yourself and figure it out on your own. There are a number of pci express cards that work fine with opensolaris (whether you really need esata or not is up to you to decide). Searching this forum will turn up a number of specific cards.
 
Sorry -- only reason I wrote that is bc I did mention twice that I don't want to use internal sata ports :p

.. and then you were like "well you can get an adapter to use the internal ports."
 
Just find a pci-e card with eSATA port on the backplate, double check by googling the name of the card and the word solaris to make sure it's going to work. HBA support is pretty comprehensive in Solaris so most will work just fine.
 
Just pick up one of the IBM M1015 LSI 2008 cards. You can pick those up for under 100 (will probably be ~100 with 2 breakout cables). It will give you 8 extra slots, is well tested under solaris. If there are eSata hot plug issues you can use one of your internal ports - since you now have 8 extra.
 
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