Date: Thu, 13 May 2010 11:12:19 -0400 From: dieterbsd@engineer.com To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Subject: Add more HDDs to system based on ICH10R: PICe SATA controller vs SATA port muiltiplier Message-ID: <8CCC0C5D08630E8-1BC8-CE3B@web-mmc-m06.sysops.aol.com>
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> I have hjome storage server, which is equipped with 6 HDDs (one=20 with > system and five for geom_raid5 in SuperMicro SATA hot-swap cage). > I need add more HDDs :) > > What is better: PICe SATA controller or SATA port multiplier? How many more disks do you want to hook up? How many PCIe slots are you willing to use for this, and how many lanes do they have? Better? A controller can be faster, but uses up a slot. A port multiplier doesn't require a slot (although you can get one that does) but total throughput is limited by the uplink. Of course a x1 slot is also limited, and the controller might not be fast enough to max it out. If you go the PM route, make sure the controller you have supports PMs, not all do. And make sure FreeBSD supports PMs for the controller, FreeBSD only got PM support in 8.0. > Is here SATA port multipliers for internal installation? Addonics makes SATA port multipliers that fit a cutout meant for a SCSI connector. If your case doesn't have this type of cutout, then depending on your case and your tolerance for kludges, you might be able to fasten one inside somewhere, providing you can keep it from shorting out. If you're into metalworking you could add a cutout. Addonics also makes PMs in a standalone external box. Addonics makes SATA port multipliers that go in an expansion slot. Also Photofast has a similar card. Lian-Li has a PCIe-x1 card with a JMB362 2 port controller and a JMicron JMB393 SATA port multiplier. http://www.addonics.com/products/pm/ http://www.semiaccurate.com/2009/12/31/lian-li-vs-photofast-pcie-x1-raid-c= ontrollers/ > Which PCIe controllers (pure controllers, I don't want to=20 pay > additional money for soft-RAID and I don't have budget for true SATA > RAID) works best with FreeBSD? Almost everything with more than 1 port is going to claim to have RAID, even controllers costing under US$20. I haven't heard of any=20 controllers that can't do JBOD. Sil 3132 (PCIe-x1 2 SATA drives) cards work well with siis(4) driver. JMB363 (PCIe-x1 2 SATA drives + 1 PATA channel) cards work with ahci(4)=20 driver. JMB363 is faster than Sil3132 but my Syba brand JMB363 cards have been=20 trouble. Try a different brand. Both 3132 and 363 are available on cards with=20 both internal and external connectors, with jumpers to route the signals to=20 the connector you wish to use. A nice feature, just don't be fooled when it says "4 ports". In message <4B027C3E.7020700@FreeBSD.org>, Alexander Motin writes: > >>>>> - SiI3124-based - fast and functional. It is actually PCI-X=20 one, but > >>>>> there are many boards with built-in PCIe bridges. > Syba PCI Express SATA II 4 x Ports RAID Controller Card SY-PEX40008 Reviews on newegg say it "Gets a bit hot" and "gets quite hot under=20 load", despite that big heatsink. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=3DN82E16816124027 Not sure why a 4 port controller would be putting out that much heat? If you like the SiI3124 chip and have a x8 slot available there is this: http://www.cooldrives.com/4expcmaca.html > Maybe, here is good-but-not-too-expensive hotswap cages with port > multipliers (my one have 5 SATA connectors on backplane for 5 > HDDs)? http://www.lian-li.com/v2/en/product/product04.php?cl_index=3D12&sc_index= =3D42&ss_index=3D115 http://www.addonics.com/products/enclosures/default.asp http://www.addonics.com/products/raid_system/ast4.asp The Addonics has more configuration options than the Lian-Li, you can get it with or without a PM, with or without hotswap, etc. Both are more expensive than they should be. Pointers to other external enclosure options would be welcome. Does anyone have recommendations for/against specific port multiplers? Do they all work well with FreeBSD? Is one faster than the others? Can they saturate the uplink, or do they suffer from the same slowness as the 3123 and 363 controllers? So far I have found: Sil 3726 JMB393 Marvel 88SM4140 Any others? http://www.addonics.com/products/host_controller/tutorial_pm.asp indicates that the JMB393 has more features than the Sil 3726, although I think I can live without those features. I haven't found any products using the Marvel chip. I was hoping someone would have a port multiplier with a 600 MB/s uplink by now?
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