Topic: Advice needed SATA Raid5 controller

[irian]

I need to install a brandnew server with SATA RAID5 and 4-5 HD's.
Looking at Dell servers at the moment, but I'm not sure if the SATA RAID5 controllers are supported.

What brand and type of SATA RAID5 controller is well supported.
Does anyone have experience with that?

Thank you!

MdV

[haymann]

I bought a 4 port SATA PCI controller for about $25 and let SME setup a 4 disk software RAID5 array. It has been working great, except for when I hosed GRUB...

Software RAID setup in SME is painless, especially if it is a fresh install. The installer sees how many drives you have and then sets you up for: ready for RAID1, RAID1, RAID5, or RAID6. I personally didn't see the value in trying to get hardware RAID configured, it might be simple as well, but software RAID works "out of the box".
Ryan

[irian]

Thanks for your answer.
Can you tell me the brand of the controller please?

I am also considering a hotswap solution with SATA disks.
That will make HD-crash recovery even easier.

MdV

[haymann]

Thanks for your answer.
Can you tell me the brand of the controller please?

Gotta love Newegg's order history!! SYBA SD-SATA-4P, looks like it is a few buck cheaper than a year ago. I have been using it for a year w/ no problems.

My brother-in-law just got some SATA removable drive trays that look pretty sweet and were cheap. Can't get much more hot swappable than that...
Ryan

[irian]

This is very helpful, thanks again.

MdV