Topic: raid card pci ata for sme7.2 informations needed

[dadoudidon]

Hello,

I would like to install a raid card controler to make raid1 with 2 ata drives.

Does someone knows a good and not to expensive card that is working with sme (not in software mode but in hadware mode).
 
3Ware card seems to be good and not so expensive.

By the way, coucld someone tell me how to install sme on a fresh installed raid card?

Do I have to create the raid before installing?

Does sme will need special driver to work with the card?

Thanks or your help

David

[raem]

dadoudidon

It has been said many times here, that the software RAID1 that comes with sme server by default is as good and in many cases better than hardware RAID.

There are links to test reports etc that do support this (search), and users have reported that the software RAID1 had better performance than the cheap hardware RAID card they were using.

I suggest you try the software RAID first and see how good it is.
Remember that hardware RAID is only software embedded in chips, so there is no real difference.

[dadoudidon]

Thanks for your answer but i have to test Mondo Rescue and this soft does not support software raid.

I have done soft raid saves with mondo rescue on  sme7.1.2 and restore does not work properly

Now i would like to test mondo rescue on a real hadware raid card.
I also know that raid on maoterboard is such a software raid so i need a good reference of a real hardware raid card (3ware, adaptec...).

Thanks

[irian]

I think the Promise cards are good too.
I personally prefer to have cards from Adaptec.

For hardware raid you need to configure your diskarray with the bios of the card.
It will show what key combination to use to access the card bios.
Then boot from the SME cd and if the driver for the card is available it'll install fine.

Beware that mainboard that come with onboard raid are actually "fake-raid".
These almost never work with Linux.

irian

[dadoudidon]

Beware that mainboard that come with onboard raid are actually "fake-raid".
These almost never work with Linux.

irian

Yes that's why i would like to test with a real controler raid card.

Do you maen that adaptec card are recognize by sme without adding driver?

Dave

[Reinhold]

Dave,

"not adding driver" does translate into "it's in the kernel" ...google will help you there

I am not aware that adaptec has any ata raid controller in production
http://www.3ware.com/products/parallel_ata.asp is recommended (if you insist)

... maybe have a look what http://www.mondorescue.org/about.shtml says...  
(no I haven't search this Forum lately...and I have given up Mondo... but it worked for me while I was using it ... and there used to be lot's of reports)

... and please re-read what Ray said...

ME: As to "badmouthing" software raid ... I am sure you easily will find a few posts from me ... or have a look at
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/mraidlinux/chapter/ch02.pdf
page 12 ... starting with Software RAID has unfortunately fallen victim to a FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) campaign

Regards
Reinhold

P.S.: There are several good reasons why ata is discontinued in favor of Sata (-Raid)

[irian]

I have more than 10 SME servers installed.
They all have two harddisks installed with Software RAID1.
I had a problem once, that was easily fixed (remotely) with a few commands.

There are several good reasons why ata is discontinued in favor of Sata (-Raid)

Anything with SME 7.x I install with SATA disk.
I just installed a new server with 4x400Gb SATA.
SME automatically installs RAID5, (as I wanted it).

Irian

[compdoc]

I like Promise controllers, but many aren’t seen as raid cards by Linux. It sees the two drives separately. Unfortunately, only more expensive raid cards like those from 3ware are supported.

[Reinhold]

No PROMISE controller (save one model) IS A RAID CONTROLLER     (A.D. 2007)

...they all are what people (like myself ?) call FAKE RAID
iow an IDE controller with software that makes the CPU do RAID work    - limping  

(Almost) same functionality as (Linux-) Soft Raid &  (Win-) Shadow Volumes
MINUS (and a big '-' that is) the OS Support.

Many kernels will accept a Promise as a simple controller device...
use it as such... apply Linux Soft Raid ... be happy  (and a lot safer)

http://www.google.com/search?q=fake+raid   will tell you more if needed

Regards
Reinhold

[compdoc]

they arent true raid, yes, but they dont use much cpu time, so they work well for what they cost. But they dont work well in other OSes.

So, you get a card that works for your OS, if you need a card...

I often use software based mirrors in servers - its cheap protection. But anything more than a mirror, like RAID 5, etc, and you will need a card...