From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Nov 30 17:35:06 2005 Return-Path: X-Original-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 57CC116A41F for ; Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:35:06 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from etoll@vipstructures.com) Received: from rodan.vipstructures.com (rodan.vipstructures.com [66.195.71.71]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id DFEF643D55 for ; Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:35:05 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from etoll@vipstructures.com) Received: from localhost (localhost.vipstructures.com [127.0.0.1]) by rodan.vipstructures.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id ACA471EE86B for ; Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:35:04 -0500 (EST) X-Greylist: Passed host: 192.168.1.3 whitelisted Received: from mothra.vipstructures.com (mothra.vipstructures.com [192.168.1.3]) by rodan.vipstructures.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 6DF7D1EE82F for ; Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:35:04 -0500 (EST) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft Exchange V6.5 Content-class: urn:content-classes:message MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Date: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 12:35:04 -0500 Message-ID: <9BC86C67C3AF7646B9C5382020457A949DD27E@VIP10-WIN2K> X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: Thread-Topic: what about highpoint 1640 SATA RAID controller ? Thread-index: AcX1grTJWX3XpiFySuy3GxphASzXygAT/qWQ From: "Toll, Eric" To: "Alessandro de Manzano" Cc: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Subject: RE: what about highpoint 1640 SATA RAID controller ? 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: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 17:35:06 -0000 >=20 > > > well, subj already says ;), however I'm planning to buy a good,=20 > > > supported and possibly not very expensive SATA RAID > > PCI > > > controller for my FreeBSD server (an IBM x206). I'll > > install > > > FreeBSD 6.0-R from scratch. > > >=20 > >=20 > > 3Ware is my favorite, it has a true hardware based RAID. I thought=20 > > hipoint, promise etc just leach off of the cpu to do > > its job. I paid just over $100.00 for a 2 port 64bit 3Ware >=20 > I think it depends on models, because, according to the PDF=20 > online manual, the highpoint 1640 is hardware based (using > the 372A chipset) and provides its own BIOS-based=20 > setup&configure utility. >=20 > I agree some models are just "software" or "hybrid" RAIDs >=20 > > card. Recommend the WD Raid edition drives. Alt+2 to=20 > setup the RAID=20 > > array in the 3Ware bios page. Group the drives.. > > Boot FreeBSD and it sees the card without having to do anything. =20 > > Neeto GUI webserver to check array etc. It can also email=20 > you if the=20 > > array gets into trouble.. >=20 > this 3ware card sounds intersting, but I'm not sure about the=20 > needs of a 64bit PCI connector.. I have to check if my x206=20 > does provide it and/or the card is PCI 32bit compatible. >=20 > Anyway, thanks for answers :) >=20 >=20 You are quite welcome. The 64 Bit 3Ware cards *will* work in a 32bit slot. Another plus is that the 3Ware has a small http daemon that lets you monitor the condition of the array using a web browser. Also it can send you an email when the array gets into trouble. I'm fairly sure the hipoint doesn't offer these things. 3Ware's support of FreeBSD is exceptional IMHO. =20 Also when I was speaking with 3Ware about controllers they recommended the Western Digitial RE SATA (Raid Edition) Drives. I did buy them and am very happy with them. Good luck whatever you choose. Kind Regards, Eric