From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Oct 26 07:14:57 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2DCE11065671 for ; Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:14:57 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from spork@bway.net) Received: from xena.bway.net (xena.bway.net [216.220.96.26]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id BFAE78FC14 for ; Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:14:56 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from spork@bway.net) Received: (qmail 84710 invoked by uid 0); 26 Oct 2008 06:48:16 -0000 Received: from unknown (HELO toasty.nat.fasttrackmonkey.com) (spork@96.57.102.250) by smtp.bway.net with (DHE-RSA-AES256-SHA encrypted) SMTP; 26 Oct 2008 06:48:16 -0000 Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 02:48:16 -0400 (EDT) From: Charles Sprickman X-X-Sender: spork@toasty.nat.fasttrackmonkey.com To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Message-ID: MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Subject: PCI-X SATA Card + Server Recommendation X-BeenThere: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion of FreeBSD hardware List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:14:57 -0000 Hello all, I have two questions regarding hardware support for two servers. One is an older Supermicro with a X5DPR-iG2+ mainboard, the other is a suggestion for a brand new box that is well-supported... Both boxes will be in a co-lo, so stuff needs to not be "quirky". First the old box. I need an SATA controller, non-RAID. I'll be using gmirror. I have PCI-X slots, so I'd like to go with a PCI-X controller. There seem to be very few out there, and this one keeps popping up everywhere: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124014 The comments there mention the chip is a Silicon Image 3124, but I don't know if I can trust a random NewEgg user. Can anyone confirm that controller as working and free of quirks? Are there other cards I should be looking at? Next, I'm looking for a basic 1U server for light webhosting. Reliability and compatibility are the two main concerns. I'm very happy with 3Ware RAID cards, so I will likely add that in myself. The server would optimally already have a hot swap SATA backplane and 4 drive bays. I'm open to the semi-barebones route like the Supermicro servers as well as major vendors like Dell and HP. Having some type of IP-KVM-like functionality as an option would also be nice, but I'll settle for a serial console. I'd like to keep this under $2K. Both servers will be running FreeBSD 7.1 (if it's out in time). Thanks, Charles