Re: [SLUG] Partitioning (Again?!)

From: Smitty (a.smitty@verizon.net)
Date: Wed Sep 18 2002 - 21:43:00 EDT


On Wednesday 18 September 2002 19:39, you wrote:

> > According to the Linux-IDE project homepage, the ONLY IDE devices that
> > support hardware RAID are the 3Ware cards and the ARCO Duplidisk
> > devices: (http://www.linux-ide.org/chipsets.html)
>
> There are other IDE controllers out there that do hardware, but each has
> its own issues, drivers, and performance characteristics. I don't think
> the above website is by any means an exhaustive list. I know for example
> that Adaptec has a DPT RAID tools compatible I2O driver, but the
> performance isn't that great.
>
> > ANYTHING else (including the HiPoint and Promise chipsets that are
> > generally what you get on motherboards that claim "built-in RAID
> > support!") require driver-level support to do any RAID at all:
> > (http://people.redhat.com/arjanv/pdcraid/ataraidhowto.html), otherwise
> > they act just like non-RAID chipsets.
>
> Supposedly, some of the newer Promise RAID controllers are hardware -
> but I'm unaware of any Linux drivers for them yet.

Thank you very much but I have such a motherboard and They Do have linux
drivers. http://www.promise.com search and see for yourself.
>
> > So far I've never seen a 3Ware chipset built into a motherboard.
>
> And for some reason, I strongly doubt we ever will.
>
> > SCSI RAID, on the other hand, does exist on motherboards, but
> > motherboards with built-in SCSI RAID capability are much more expensive
> > as are SCSI drives, so I'm assuming we're talking about IDE.
>
> SCSI RAID is *sooooo* expensive. The controllers are expensive. The
> drives are expensive. The coolers to keep the drives at a non-scalding
> temperature are expensive, not to mention the noise dampening.
>
> > > On the other hand, 3ware has true hardware RAID cards and fully
> > > supports linux--even with open source drivers.
> >
> > Yep, and we use them at NKS. Make SURE you have the latest firmware
> > though! Earlier firmware was pretty buggy (in our experience) but the
> > latest versions work fantastic.
>
> Yeah. And they're CHEAP. Can't beat ~$100 for a hardware RAID card
> (granted, the escallade 6400's are rather out of date now).
>
> > Even our own Ian Blenke was pleasantly surprised when he bought a 4-port
> > 3Ware card. And Ian isn't usually happy with hardware until he's had a
> > chance to break it several times. :)
>
> And believe me, I *do* TRY. :)
>
> Honestly, there are so many GOOD things to say about IDE hardware RAID,
> I can't recommend SCSI arrays anymore (unless you're into video
> production, have a need for some high-end database performance and RAM
> just won't do, or have a lot of cash in your pocket, in which case we
> really need to talk :)
>
> - Ian C. Blenke <icblenke@nks.net> <ian@blenke.com>
> http://ian.blenke.com



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