I'm looking at bring up an OmniOS ZFS SMB server at work for large datasets. Originally I was thinking 11x4Tb Raidz3, Mirrored ZIL, L2arc, and hotspares in an external enclosure. However, because of the IOPS boost, I am thinking that 16x4TB mirrored pairs are looking like the way to go. Then I started wondering if two enclosures (one of the mirror pairs in each) would give an appreciable boost in physical redundancy since there are separate backplanes, and power systems.... Or am I more likely to create more problems with potental cabling faults?
There is the possiblility that this eventually would morph into a two head system. Enclosures would have disks for 2 pools in them. Each head would mount a pool and monitor for the failure of the other head, if so, mount the other's pool. I understand this would need dual expanders in the enclosures.
BTW.. before anyone asks... this will be replicated to another ZFS system in another datacenter several times an hour for backup purposes.
There is the possiblility that this eventually would morph into a two head system. Enclosures would have disks for 2 pools in them. Each head would mount a pool and monitor for the failure of the other head, if so, mount the other's pool. I understand this would need dual expanders in the enclosures.
BTW.. before anyone asks... this will be replicated to another ZFS system in another datacenter several times an hour for backup purposes.