From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Thu Nov 18 14:52:41 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 09C18106566C for ; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:52:41 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from ryan.coleman@cwis.biz) Received: from server.cwis.biz (70-89-202-5-invergrove-mn.hfc.comcastbusiness.net [70.89.202.5]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id CFB868FC18 for ; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:52:40 +0000 (UTC) Received: from server.cwis.biz (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by server.cwis.biz (Postfix) with ESMTP id 10908262631B; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:52:44 -0600 (CST) X-Virus-Scanned: amavisd-new at cwis.biz Received: from server.cwis.biz ([127.0.0.1]) by server.cwis.biz (server.cwis.biz [127.0.0.1]) (amavisd-new, port 10024) with ESMTP id qBbEhLR54D1S; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:52:41 -0600 (CST) Received: from [10.0.1.5] (70-89-202-1-invergrove-mn.hfc.comcastbusiness.net [70.89.202.1]) by server.cwis.biz (Postfix) with ESMTPSA id 23DBF262631A; Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:52:41 -0600 (CST) Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v1082) From: Ryan Coleman In-Reply-To: Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 08:52:35 -0600 Message-Id: References: To: Andy Wodfer X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1082) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5 Cc: freebsd-questions Subject: Re: FreeBSD and large harddrives X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:52:41 -0000 On Nov 18, 2010, at 6:16 AM, Andy Wodfer wrote: > Hi, > I'm going to build a server that's intended to store uncompressed = videofiles > (where 1 hour film equals about 500GB). I plan on using Western = Digital 2TB > or 3TB SATA harddrives. Total storage in version 1 of this server = will > probably be 8-12 TB. Harddrive speed is not so important so a 5400rpm = drive > would be OK. Seems like the green line of WD harddrives use both = 5400rpm and > 7200rpm. I will use RAID 5. As a user of such a system (1.5TB, though) I recommend that you NOT use = the green drives. If you insist on WD go with the Black. I've had good = luck with Hitachi, myself. > The processor will be a 64bit capable Intel processor and I plan on = using a > Highpoint Rocketraid or 3ware Raid controller. I have the RR2320 and am happy. >=20 > So now my questions: >=20 > 1. Which FreeBSD version should I install? (it must support large = drives). > I'm currently using the standard FreeBSD 8.1 (STABLE) on several = servers, > but this is a 32bit version, right? I suppose I need a 64bit version = when I > use large harddrives? Running 8.1 for the AMD64. I'd run 64bit no matter what. You can always = get 32bit to run in 64, but not v-v. > 2. I know that the 3ware Raid controller supports larger drives than = 2TB (or > was it 1TB?). The Highpoint controller I'm not so sure of, but I've = had good > experience with these on a few Windows servers and on one FreeBSD = server. My > setup would be to use the entire disk for both operating system and > filestorage (in version 1). How can I create this huge = partition/slice? I > don't think the installer (atleast on the standard FreeBSD version) = supports > these large drives? Yes. I'm using UFS (at the recommendation 3 years ago of this list) and = am quite happy. The 2320s are supporting both an 8x1TB RAID5 (6.3TB) = and an 8x1.5TB RAID5 (~9.5TB) without issue. If you get it all going OK = in the first run you have a web interface for the RR223x boards.=20 > Thanks for your help. I might have follow-up questions as my project = make > progress. Good luck, Andy. > Best, > Andy