From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Sun Apr 2 08:48:06 2006 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0AD0F16A400 for ; Sun, 2 Apr 2006 08:48:06 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from matthias.andree@gmx.de) Received: from mail.gmx.net (mail.gmx.de [213.165.64.20]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 2F5D343D48 for ; Sun, 2 Apr 2006 08:48:05 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from matthias.andree@gmx.de) Received: (qmail invoked by alias); 02 Apr 2006 08:48:03 -0000 Received: from p509124E9.dip0.t-ipconnect.de (EHLO m2a2.dyndns.org) [80.145.36.233] by mail.gmx.net (mp036) with SMTP; 02 Apr 2006 10:48:03 +0200 X-Authenticated: #428038 Received: from localhost (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by merlin.emma.line.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2E47620055F for ; Sun, 2 Apr 2006 10:47:59 +0200 (CEST) Received: from m2a2.dyndns.org ([127.0.0.1]) by localhost (m2a2.dyndns.org [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id 06967-11 for ; Sun, 2 Apr 2006 10:47:57 +0200 (CEST) Received: by merlin.emma.line.org (Postfix, from userid 500) id 71BBE2007D1; Sun, 2 Apr 2006 10:47:57 +0200 (CEST) From: Matthias Andree To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org In-Reply-To: <20060401193549.I56214@localhost> (tenebrae_bsd@niceboots.com's message of "Sat, 1 Apr 2006 20:44:35 -0800 (PST)") References: <20060401110818.U54953@localhost> <20060401193549.I56214@localhost> X-PGP-Key: http://home.pages.de/~mandree/keys/GPGKEY.asc Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2006 10:47:57 +0200 Message-ID: User-Agent: Gnus/5.110004 (No Gnus v0.4) Emacs/21.3 (gnu/linux) MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at emma.line.org X-Y-GMX-Trusted: 0 Subject: Re: SATA RAID: Adaptec 1420SA, Promise TX4300? X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2006 08:48:06 -0000 Tenebrae writes: > On Sat, 1 Apr 2006, Matthias Andree wrote: > >> RAID1 is _not_ a backup, but an availability aid. >> If going for RAID1, be sure to add a backup solution. > > More to think about...thank you. > I am trying to get some peace of mind on a budget, though. I suppose I > need to give more consideration to what my priorities are since I don't > think I will be able to do all that "should" be done. Yup. In doubt, prefer backup hardware (and if only two external 300 GB drives with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed or IEEE 1394 connector) over RAID. People will forgive you if the machine is down for a few hours, but they'll jump on you if you lose their data for good. And having backups on disconnected media that don't break if a surge manages to pass through your power supply is essential. >> Be sure to get something that is real hardware RAID. >> >> You don't need to pay for software RAID, you usually get that for free >> with the onboard chipset these days. > > The motherboard in question is a Tyan Thunder HEsl-T (S2688). It's a > hand-me-down, but still beats the pants off of anything else I've got at > the moment. Well, that board has two(!) onboard Ultra160 SCSI channels, good enough for 30 UW/U2W/U160/U320 drives (software RAID), and it has a Zero-Channel-RAID option if you want hardware RAID. SCSI drives are usually longer-lasting than SATA commodities. Speaking from experience with SATA RAID and SCSI RAID, the latter is much better worked-out. >> No way. Real RAID costs more than twice as much for 4 ports. 150 bucks >> suffice only for the 2 port warm-plug (i. e. you need to manually mark >> the drive for removal in the software or BIOS, then exchange it , then >> manually start the rebuild operation in software or BIOS) >> 3Ware (now AMCC) Escalade 8006-2LP. > > Ah, I see. The 8506-4LP seems to be discontinued from my vendor, but they > do carry the 8006-2LP in that price range. If you can do with 2 drives that is, and can do without being able to Alt+3 from your remote management board. If you want remote management, you need to get the 9000 series AFAIR. -- Matthias Andree