From owner-freebsd-isp Wed Nov 13 04:48:14 1996 Return-Path: owner-isp Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id EAA14261 for isp-outgoing; Wed, 13 Nov 1996 04:48:14 -0800 (PST) Received: from brasil.moneng.mei.com (brasil.moneng.mei.com [151.186.109.160]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) with ESMTP id EAA14255 for ; Wed, 13 Nov 1996 04:48:12 -0800 (PST) Received: (from jgreco@localhost) by brasil.moneng.mei.com (8.7.Beta.1/8.7.Beta.1) id GAA22879; Wed, 13 Nov 1996 06:46:50 -0600 From: Joe Greco Message-Id: <199611131246.GAA22879@brasil.moneng.mei.com> Subject: Re: News server disks To: hsu@clinet.fi (Heikki Suonsivu) Date: Wed, 13 Nov 1996 06:46:49 -0600 (CST) Cc: freebsd-isp@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: <199611131135.NAA13347@cantina.clinet.fi> from "Heikki Suonsivu" at Nov 13, 96 01:35:51 pm X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL24] Content-Type: text Sender: owner-isp@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk > We are upgrading our news server, but I have trouble obtaining faster > quantum disks (Atlas). Slower fireball 3G disks and seagates I can get my > hands on. So, question, which one is better: > > 7 * 3G quantum fireball (4 for spool, 1 for overview data) > > 2 * 2G + 4 * 4G seagate (hawk or faster) > > quantums have sort-of-working write cache, which seagates do not, but seek > time is slower. Seagate option is considerably more expensive. Having > more quantums would probably compensate for slower seek times, and better > (existing) write cache would be helpful. Any experience with fireballs, > are they of any use ? The Fireballs are slooooooooooow. Also I do not like the implication behind the name.... The new Hawk-2 series drives appear and feel very fast. I've been using these since the beginning of summer with excellent luck. They come with write back enabled, I don't know if this means that it "really" works or not, but I have not had any problems. I recently ordered 18 of the 1G drives for a new news server. At around $320/ea USD, they are about as expensive a solution as you will find, but they are also a fast solution. My advice? If you can't go any smaller, at least order 10 Hawk-2 2GB drives (ST32155N)... ... JG