From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Dec 7 23:19:17 2005 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 B639E16A41F for ; Wed, 7 Dec 2005 23:19:17 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from torfinn.ingolfsen@broadpark.no) Received: from osl1smout1.broadpark.no (osl1smout1.broadpark.no [80.202.4.58]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2FC5A43D46 for ; Wed, 7 Dec 2005 23:19:11 +0000 (GMT) (envelope-from torfinn.ingolfsen@broadpark.no) Received: from osl1sminn1.broadpark.no ([80.202.4.59]) by osl1smout1.broadpark.no (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.1 HotFix 0.05 (built Oct 21 2004)) with ESMTP id <0IR5000MVIARVAE0@osl1smout1.broadpark.no> for freebsd-stable@freebsd.org; Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:23:15 +0100 (CET) Received: from kg-work.kg4.no ([80.203.92.30]) by osl1sminn1.broadpark.no (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.1 HotFix 0.05 (built Oct 21 2004)) with SMTP id <0IR5000BQI87PNP0@osl1sminn1.broadpark.no> for freebsd-stable@freebsd.org; Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:21:44 +0100 (CET) Date: Thu, 08 Dec 2005 00:18:57 +0100 From: Torfinn Ingolfsen X-Face: "t9w2,-X@O^I`jVW\sonI3.,36KBLZE*AL[y9lL[PyFD*r_S:dIL9c[8Y>V42R0"!"yb_zN,f#%.[PYYNq; m"_0v; ~rUM2Yy!zmkh)3&U|u!=T(zyv,MHJv"nDH>OJ`t(@mil461d_B'Uo|'nMwlKe0Mv=kvV?Nh@>Hb<3s_z2jYgZhPb@?Wi^x1a~Hplz1.zH To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Message-id: <20051208001857.68ac4fef.torfinn.ingolfsen@broadpark.no> MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 1.0.6 (GTK+ 1.2.10; i386-portbld-freebsd5.4) Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: FreeBSD 6.0 as storage server with raid5? 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: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 23:19:17 -0000 I need to set up a storage server for my personal use. The current solution on my little local network is a haphazard collection of old machines with disks in them, and backups are so-so. I could just set up a "normal" FreeBSD server, with single disks, and setup another one for the backup. However, I would like to try something new for me; raid. Specifically, I'm looking to set up a server with raid 5 for storage. For the backup server, I haven't decided yet, but I am thinking about a normal server with external (firwire or usb 2.0) disks. I was thinking about gvinum for the storage server, but given the current documentation and the discussions about it now, I don't want to risk it. So, I'm looking at hardware raid 5 controllers. From this list, it seems that areca and 3ware are the best ones, but they are very expensive here. I also know that anything with a SIL 3112 on it are to be avoided. So here is the list over controllers I can get for a reasonable price: Highpoint RocketRAID 1640 (4 ports) Promise FastTrak S150 SX4 (4 ports) Promise FastTrak S150 SX4-M (4 ports) Highpoint RocketRAID 1810A (4 ports) Highpoint RocketRAID 1820A (8 ports) Intel RAID Controller SRCS16 (6 ports) Which one should I get? Are there some that are not supported or should be avoided for other reasons? Other questions: 1) can I install several 4-port RAID controllers in one machine? I can get two RocketRAID 1640's for the price of one RocketRAID 1820A. 2) Rebuilding a damaged array - are some of these controllers "better" than others? (Easier to handle, rebuilds in shorter time, ?) 3) disks - I understand the importance of using disks from different production runs. Some people have suggested to use disks of different brands as well, but there were no conclusions. Should I stick to the same brand and model, or can I use disks of different brands as long as they are of the same size? 4) PSU considerations. How big a PSU do I need if I want to run two controllers and eight disks in one machine? are there any rules of thumb for sizing this? Other suggestions are welcome. -- Regards, Torfinn Ingolfsen, Norway