From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Sep 21 19:22:07 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 44FF416A41F for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:22:07 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from cswiger@mac.com) Received: from pi.codefab.com (pi.codefab.com [199.103.21.227]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DA4E143D45 for ; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:22:06 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from cswiger@mac.com) Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by pi.codefab.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 209DC5D99; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:22:06 -0400 (EDT) Received: from pi.codefab.com ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (pi.codefab.com [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 41543-05; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:22:03 -0400 (EDT) Received: from [10.1.1.209] (nfw1.codefab.com [199.103.21.225]) by pi.codefab.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id C1DA35C5D; Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:22:03 -0400 (EDT) In-Reply-To: <20050921181237.GI65449@ratchet.nebcorp.com> References: <20050921181237.GI65449@ratchet.nebcorp.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v734) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed Message-Id: <1D8C5C86-C719-4052-A7E5-E16E0C4B2524@mac.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit From: Charles Swiger Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 15:21:42 -0400 To: Danny Howard X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.734) X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at codefab.com Cc: FreeBSD Questions Subject: Re: Recomendations for FC-attached storage appliance? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 21 Sep 2005 19:22:07 -0000 On Sep 21, 2005, at 2:12 PM, Danny Howard wrote: > 1) Would anyone like to share a preferred storage solution? My > dream is > something where I can connect two FC controllers to two FreeBSD > servers. > If one controller fails, or if one server fails, I can still mount the > same disks via the redundant server or controller. > > It sounds like most solutions have the disks on one controller or the > other, so if a controller fails, the disks are inaccessible until you > swap out the failed controller. The Apple Xserve RAID comes to mind. > The Xserve RAID does indeed have two separate controllers, each attached to a separate 2GB SBF port, and thus is a single point of failure. On the other hand, having a dedicated channel for each drive rather than hooking them all into the FC mesh is a heck of a lot less expensive than providing completely redundant controllers, dual-loop connections for each storage device, etc, etc. You get what you pay for. If need be, have one set of 7 drives configured as a complete warm backup for the second set of 7 drives, which you can do using higher level software (like the ADIC StorEdge filesystem stuff Apple recommends). It may be the case that you'd be happier with a NAS solution from Auspex, NetApp, etc, rather than trying to roll your own SAN... > 2) Would anyone like to share a preferred HBA? I am constantly > frustrated by suggested solutions because it seems that every disk > appliance only ever supports one HBA. For example, the Apple ... only > supports LSI7202XP. My research has found zero evidence that this is > supported by FreeBSD. So, if that wont work, I should just run Linux? > Or has someone stress-tested their favorite HBA and found it to be > totally robust in some configuration ... ? > FreeBSD has driver support described in isp (Qlogic 2100, 2200, 2300) and mpt (LSI FC909, 919, 929). I believe the LSI7202XP dual-port PCIX card uses the FC929X controller chip, so FreeBSD ought to support that HBA. -- -Chuck