Date: 27 Feb 2003 14:35:21 -0000 From: charms <charms@nym.alias.net> To: freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.org, gaf@boywonder.geekazoid.com Subject: Re: ATA RAID Suggestions Message-ID: <20030227143521.4371.qmail@nym.alias.net> In-Reply-To: <200302212309.h1LN9Eq87527@boywonder.geekazoid.com>
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Geekazoid and Friends wrote:
> I am looking for ATA RAID suggestions. I have tried a Promise FastTrak TX2000
> with 2 Hot-Swap Trays. I receive an error message that the controller does not
> support the 'rebuild' feature of 'atacontrol'.
>
> So, my question is thus...Can anyone recommend a solid ATA RAID Controller that
> supports re-mirroring on the fly? Also, any recommendations about hot-swap
> trays/bays?
>
> Any assistance would be Greatly Appreciated!
>
> Just to be a pain, I am not subscribed to this list. :-| Could you please
> reply 'geeks@geekazoid.com'?
I deploy a lot of FreeBSD platforms that use HighPoint HPT370 controllers
in an *unmirrored* configuration, for end-of-the-day backups. The HPT370
allows me to reliably hot swap *identical* (i.e. ST3400021A) unmounted
drives using the following procedure:
1) power down a drive
2) invoke
/sbin/sysctl -w hpt37x2.status="hpt rescan all"
to prod the kernel into realizing that a drive is down
3) swap the drive
4) power up a replacement drive
5) invoke
/sbin/sysctl -w hpt37x2.status="hpt rescan all"
to prod the kernel into realizing that a drive is back on line
Observation/question:
1. ATA gurus tell me that ATA detection magic only occurs during a
hard boot. Something beyond my comprehension prevents a PC from
recognizing an ATA drive with a different geometry "on the fly."
Therefore, I use drives with identical geometry for hot swaps.
2. So far, /sbin/sysctl only seems to work with HighPoint controllers.
Does anyone know of any other controller that can accommodate a
hot swap by using /sbin/sysctl?
--
charms
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