Re: Linux: Why software RAID?

H. Peter Anvin
2006-08-24T05:26:46Z

Chris Friesen wrote:
> Jeff Garzik wrote:
>
>> But anyway, to help answer the question of hardware vs. software RAID,
>> I wrote up a page:
>>
>> http://linux.yyz.us/why-software-raid.html
>
> Just curious...with these guys
> (http://www.bigfootnetworks.com/KillerOverview.aspx) putting linux on a
> PCI NIC to allow them to bypass Windows' network stack, has anyone ever
> considered doing "hardware" raid by using an embedded cpu running linux
> software RAID, with battery-backed memory?
>
> It would theoretically allow you to remain feature-compatible by
> downloading new kernels to your RAID card.
>

Yes. In fact, I have been told by several RAID chip vendors that their
customers are *strongly* demanding that their chips be able to run Linux
md (and still use whatever hardware offload features.)

So it's happening.

-hpa