From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Justin Piszcz Subject: Re: Software based SATA RAID-5 expandable arrays? Date: Sun, 17 Jun 2007 18:23:22 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: References: <11167521.post@talk.nabble.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed Return-path: In-Reply-To: <11167521.post@talk.nabble.com> Sender: linux-raid-owner@vger.kernel.org To: greenjelly Cc: linux-raid@vger.kernel.org List-Id: linux-raid.ids On Sun, 17 Jun 2007, greenjelly wrote: > > I am researching my option to build a Media NAS server. Sorry for the long > message, but I wanted to provide as much details as possible to my problem, > for the best solution. I have Bolded sections as to save people who don't > have the time to read all of this. > > Option 1: Expand My current Dream Machine! > I could buying a RAID-5 Hardware card for my current system (vista ultimate > 64 with a extreme 6800 and 1066mb 2 gig RAM). The Adaptec RAID controller > (model "3805", you can search NewEgg for the infomation) will cost me near > $500 (consume 23w) and support 8 drives (I have 6). This controller > contains a 800mhz processor with a large cache of memory. It will support > expandable RAID-5 array! I would also buy a 750w+ PSU (for the additional > safety and security). The drives in this machine would be placed in shock > absorbing (noise reduction) 3 slot 4 drive bay containers with fans ( I have > 2 of these) and I will be removing a IDE based Pioneer DVD Burner (1 of 3) > because of its flaky performance given the p965 intel chip set lack of > native IDE support and thus the Motherboards Micron SATA to IDE device. Ive > already installed 4 drives in this machine (on the native MB SATA > controller) only to find a fan fail on me within days of the installation. > One of the drives went bad (may or may not have to do with the heat). There > are 5mm between these drives, and I would now replace both fans with higher > RPM ball baring fans for added reliability (more noise). I would also need > to find a Freeware SMART monitor software which at this time I can not find > for Vista, to warn me of increased temps due to failure of fan, increased > environmental heat, etc. The only option is commercial SMART monitoring > software (which may not work with the Adaptec RAID adapter. > > Option 2: Build a server. > I have a copy of Windows 2003 server, which I have yet to find out if it > supports native software expandable RAID-5 arrays. I can also use Linux > (which I have very little experience with) but have always wanted to use and > learn. > > To do either of the last two options, I would still need to buy a new power > supply for my current VISTA machine (for added reliability). The current > PSU is 550w and with a power hungry RADEON, 3 DVD Drives and a X-Fi sound > card... My nerves are getting frayed. > > I would buy a cheap motherboard, processor and 1gig or less of RAM. Lastly > I would want a VERY large Case. I have a 7300 NVidia PCI card that was > replaced with a X1950GT on my Home Theater PC so that I may play back > HD/Blue Ray DVD's. > > The server option may cost a bit more then the $500 for the Adaptec Raid > controller. This will only work if Linux or Windows 2003 supports my much > needed requirements. My Linux OS will be installed on a 40mb IDE Drive (not > part of the Array). > > The options I seek are to be able to start with a 6 Drive array RAID-5 > array, then as my demand for more space increases in the future I want to be > able to plug in more drives and incorporate them into the Array without the > need to backup the data. Basically I need the software to add the > drive/drives to the Array, then Rebuild the array incorporating the new > drives while preserving the data on the original array. > > QUESTIONS > Since this is a media server, and would only be used to serve Movies and > Video to my two machines It wouldn't have to be powered up full time (My > Music consumes less space and will be contained on two seperate machines). > Is there a way to considerably lower the power consumption of this server > the 90% of time its not in use? > > Can Linux support Drive Arrays of Significant Sizes (4-8 terabytes)? Yes, some reports of over 40-60TB. > > Can Linux Software support RAID-5 expandability, allowing me to increase the > number of disks in the array, without the need to backup the media, recreate > the array from scratch and then copy the backup to the machine (something I > will be unable to do)? With a recent kernel, yes. > > I know this is a Linux forum, but I figure many of you guys work with > Windows Server. If so does Windows 2003 provide the same support for the > requested requirements above? I hear Windows 2003 SW raid is extremely slow. $ /usr/bin/time dd if=/dev/zero of=file bs=1M dd: writing `file': No space left on device 1070704+0 records in 1070703+0 records out 1122713473024 bytes (1.1 TB) copied, 2565.89 seconds, 438 MB/s $ time dd if=100gb of=/dev/null bs=1M count=102400 102400+0 records in 102400+0 records out 107374182400 bytes (107 GB) copied, 172.588 seconds, 622 MB/s Sure its cached, and I could use the direct flag, but I do not use my disks with the cache turned off. Most important thing is cooling IMO, make sure you get a good case. ^^ That is with 10 raptors and software raid5. I'd use a separate Linux box with MD SW raid and have your dream machine separate. If you use XFS make sure you buy yourself a UPS and then you'll have yourself a nice stable box. Justin. > > Thanks > GreenJelly > -- > View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/Software-based-SATA-RAID-5-expandable-arrays--tf3937421.html#a11167521 > Sent from the linux-raid mailing list archive at Nabble.com. > > - > To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe linux-raid" in > the body of a message to majordomo@vger.kernel.org > More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html >