[opensuse] S-ATA hardware RAID controller

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Paul Neuwirth

13 Feb 2008 13 Feb '08

15:57

Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3). I need a RAID 10 array (therefore I got 4 S-ATA II HDD each 500GB). I use a Silicon Image 3124 Controller, and have got a hardware RAID controller / port multiplier (SiI4726), which was pronounced to be compatible with Linux. But there's only a proprietary support for some distributions and kernels (i.e. some SLES Kernel). So it's working as port multiplier but, raid is not configurable with Linux. Using of linux software raid (dmraid) is not possible - it causes too heavy cpu load. Thanks for your help, Paul Neuwirth -- "His great aim was to escape from civilization, and, as soon as he had money, he went to Southern California."

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Dave Howorth

13 Feb 13 Feb

16:11

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3).

I use 3ware 9500s successfully. Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Paul Neuwirth

16:52

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:11:29 +0000 Dave Howorth wrote:

...

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3).

I use 3ware 9500s successfully.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the fast answer. The 3ware 9500S series seems to be supported by a standard kernel module. on the website of 3ware can be downloaded a cli management software and raid seems to be configurable by card's bios 2 questions left: according to http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata9000.asp / http://www.3ware.com/products/pdf/9000_DS_012605.pdf # Optimized hardware XOR RAID 5 engine provides true hardware based RAID and intelligent drive management functions # Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, Single Disk (JBOD) # PCI 2.2 compliant 64-bit/66MHz bus master is RAID 10 really supported by hardware raid or only RAID 5? does it work in a PCI-32bit/66MHz system? Thanks -- Q: Why do mountain climbers rope themselves together? A: To prevent the sensible ones from going home.

Dave Howorth

17:33

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:11:29 +0000 Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3). I use 3ware 9500s successfully.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the fast answer. The 3ware 9500S series seems to be supported by a standard kernel module.

correct

...

on the website of 3ware can be downloaded a cli management software and raid seems to be configurable by card's bios

I use 3dmd2, which is probably what you've seen

...

2 questions left: according to http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata9000.asp / http://www.3ware.com/products/pdf/9000_DS_012605.pdf # Optimized hardware XOR RAID 5 engine provides true hardware based RAID and intelligent drive management functions # Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, Single Disk (JBOD) # PCI 2.2 compliant 64-bit/66MHz bus master is RAID 10 really supported by hardware raid or only RAID 5?

I don't know, I run RAID 5

...

does it work in a PCI-32bit/66MHz system?

I don't know I run 64-bit machines for servers

...

Thanks

Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Sandy Drobic

17:35

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:11:29 +0000 Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3). I use 3ware 9500s successfully.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the fast answer. The 3ware 9500S series seems to be supported by a standard kernel module. on the website of 3ware can be downloaded a cli management software and raid seems to be configurable by card's bios 2 questions left: according to http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata9000.asp / http://www.3ware.com/products/pdf/9000_DS_012605.pdf # Optimized hardware XOR RAID 5 engine provides true hardware based RAID and intelligent drive management functions # Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, Single Disk (JBOD) # PCI 2.2 compliant 64-bit/66MHz bus master is RAID 10 really supported by hardware raid or only RAID 5?

It is hardware raid.

...

does it work in a PCI-32bit/66MHz system?

Now, that's a good question. A better question would be, why you would want to use a brand-new raid-controller in combination with an outdated motherboard. The 9000 Series still uses PCI 64bit,66 MHz, all newer controllers either require PCI-X or PCIe. Better get a new Motherboard with PCIe, that way you get a faster NIC (onboard) as well. -- Sandy List replies only please! Please address PMs to: news-reply2 (@) japantest (.) homelinux (.) com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Paul Neuwirth

19:20

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:35:10 +0100 Sandy Drobic wrote:

...

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:11:29 +0000 Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3). I use 3ware 9500s successfully.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the fast answer. The 3ware 9500S series seems to be supported by a standard kernel module. on the website of 3ware can be downloaded a cli management software and raid seems to be configurable by card's bios 2 questions left: according to http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata9000.asp / http://www.3ware.com/products/pdf/9000_DS_012605.pdf # Optimized hardware XOR RAID 5 engine provides true hardware based RAID and intelligent drive management functions # Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, Single Disk (JBOD) # PCI 2.2 compliant 64-bit/66MHz bus master is RAID 10 really supported by hardware raid or only RAID 5?

It is hardware raid.

...
does it work in a PCI-32bit/66MHz system?

Now, that's a good question. A better question would be, why you would want to use a brand-new raid-controller in combination with an outdated motherboard.

The 9000 Series still uses PCI 64bit,66 MHz, all newer controllers either require PCI-X or PCIe. Better get a new Motherboard with PCIe, that way you get a faster NIC (onboard) as well.

Well the problem is, i cannot afford a whole new system. i wanted to make this server a dedicated database server. and i don't think a newer motherboard supports this 32bit cpu. or... are there "older" S-ATA controllers. -- Pascal, n.: A programming language named after a man who would turn over in his grave if he knew about it.

Sandy Drobic

20:36

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:35:10 +0100 Sandy Drobic wrote:

...

...
The 9000 Series still uses PCI 64bit,66 MHz, all newer controllers either require PCI-X or PCIe. Better get a new Motherboard with PCIe, that way you get a faster NIC (onboard) as well.

Well the problem is, i cannot afford a whole new system. i wanted to make this server a dedicated database server. and i don't think a newer motherboard supports this 32bit cpu.

Don't use a 32bit CPU as a dedicated database server, especially if you are working with a large database (with 1 TB storage I assume that you do have a large database).

...

or... are there "older" S-ATA controllers.

In that case I suggest you reevaluate your priorities. Just the cost for the raid-controller and the four drives is about 700 Euro. A new mainboard with a dualcore cpu and 2 GB RAM is about: - Mainboard 100 Euro - CPU Core2Duo E4700 130 Euro - 4 GB RAM DDR2 90 Euro If you can't afford that price I suggest you visit Ebay and look for a good but cheap scsi raid-controller and some 15k scsi disks. -- Sandy List replies only please! Please address PMs to: news-reply2 (@) japantest (.) homelinux (.) com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Greg Freemyer

20:43

...

- 4 GB RAM DDR2 90 Euro

Is RAM really that cheap? If so I need to go buy a bunch. (lots of machines to upgrade.) Last time I checked it was $100 / 2 GB, so looks like it has dropped a bunch more. Greg -- Greg Freemyer Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Tero Pesonen

21:19

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008, Greg Freemyer wrote:

...

...
- 4 GB RAM DDR2 90 Euro

Is RAM really that cheap? If so I need to go buy a bunch. (lots of machines to upgrade.)

Last time I checked it was $100 / 2 GB, so looks like it has dropped a bunch more.

I bought a 1GB module a couple of weeks ago, (Kingston DDR ECC 2.5CL 400MHz), and it was EUR 60. Faster, (or larger) modules would have been closer to EUR 100. Tero Pesonen

...

Greg -- Greg Freemyer Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf

The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Sandy Drobic

22:14

Tero Pesonen wrote:

...

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008, Greg Freemyer wrote:

...
...
- 4 GB RAM DDR2 90 Euro Is RAM really that cheap? If so I need to go buy a bunch. (lots of machines to upgrade.)

Last time I checked it was $100 / 2 GB, so looks like it has dropped a bunch more.

I bought a 1GB module a couple of weeks ago, (Kingston DDR ECC 2.5CL 400MHz), and it was EUR 60. Faster, (or larger) modules would have been closer to EUR 100.

Due to painful experience with dropping prices I made it a rule to only buy hardware whenI really need it, not in advance. Kingston RAM is a bit more pricy, in the range of 50-60 Euro per 2GB. Of course that goes for DDR2-800, not the fast modules. For DDR3-1333 you have to fork over many times more that that. (^-^) Though the effect of fast RAM modules is overrated compared to the price you have to pay. I would rather invest in ECC RAM than in faster modules. Servers need to be robust and reliable first. The few percents more speed you gain you pay heavily for. Better invest it in a faster cpu and faster disks. -- Sandy List replies only please! Please address PMs to: news-reply2 (@) japantest (.) homelinux (.) com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Paul Neuwirth

21:14

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 21:36:46 +0100 Sandy Drobic wrote:

...

Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 18:35:10 +0100 Sandy Drobic wrote:

...
...
The 9000 Series still uses PCI 64bit,66 MHz, all newer controllers either require PCI-X or PCIe. Better get a new Motherboard with PCIe, that way you get a faster NIC (onboard) as well.

Well the problem is, i cannot afford a whole new system. i wanted to make this server a dedicated database server. and i don't think a newer motherboard supports this 32bit cpu.

Don't use a 32bit CPU as a dedicated database server, especially if you are working with a large database (with 1 TB storage I assume that you do have a large database).

...
or... are there "older" S-ATA controllers.

In that case I suggest you reevaluate your priorities. Just the cost for the raid-controller and the four drives is about 700 Euro.

A new mainboard with a dualcore cpu and 2 GB RAM is about: - Mainboard 100 Euro - CPU Core2Duo E4700 130 Euro - 4 GB RAM DDR2 90 Euro

If you can't afford that price I suggest you visit Ebay and look for a good but cheap scsi raid-controller and some 15k scsi disks.

this may be a good idea.. but i already got the 4 S-ATA hdds.. now running with dmraid (very slowing down the system). maybe with a dualcore-cpu this effect is not a big problem.. hmm.. PCI-X is compatible to older 32-bit PCI-cards i think? -- Confession is good for the soul only in the sense that a tweed coat is good for dandruff. -- Peter de Vries

Greg Freemyer

17:44

On Feb 13, 2008 11:52 AM, Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

On Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:11:29 +0000 Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...
Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3).

I use 3ware 9500s successfully.

Cheers, Dave

Thanks for the fast answer. The 3ware 9500S series seems to be supported by a standard kernel module. on the website of 3ware can be downloaded a cli management software and raid seems to be configurable by card's bios 2 questions left: according to http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata9000.asp / http://www.3ware.com/products/pdf/9000_DS_012605.pdf # Optimized hardware XOR RAID 5 engine provides true hardware based RAID and intelligent drive management functions # Supports RAID levels 0, 1, 10, 5, 50, Single Disk (JBOD) # PCI 2.2 compliant 64-bit/66MHz bus master is RAID 10 really supported by hardware raid or only RAID 5? does it work in a PCI-32bit/66MHz system?

You said you were concerned with performance, right? PCI-Express is significantly faster than PCI, and readily available. I would definitely consider it instead of PCI. http://www.3ware.com/products/serial_ata2-9650.asp FYI: i have not used a 3ware PCI express card with linux yet, but I'm thinking about doing so soon. Greg -- Greg Freemyer Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Greg Freemyer

17:08

On Feb 13, 2008 10:57 AM, Paul Neuwirth wrote:

...

Hello, can someone recommend a real hardware RAID S-ATA Controller compatible with Linux (openSUSE 10.3). I need a RAID 10 array (therefore I got 4 S-ATA II HDD each 500GB). I use a Silicon Image 3124 Controller, and have got a hardware RAID controller / port multiplier (SiI4726), which was pronounced to be compatible with Linux. But there's only a proprietary support for some distributions and kernels (i.e. some SLES Kernel). So it's working as port multiplier but, raid is not configurable with Linux. Using of linux software raid (dmraid) is not possible - it causes too heavy cpu load. Thanks for your help, Paul Neuwirth

I don't believe SIG offers hardware raid. It is all fake-raid as far as I know, so you will no CPU reduction from using there cards. http://linux-ata.org/faq-sata-raid.html#sii FYI: dmraid is not much of a load, but I can understand wanting hardware raid. I use 3ware for that. Greg -- Greg Freemyer Litigation Triage Solutions Specialist http://www.linkedin.com/in/gregfreemyer First 99 Days Litigation White Paper - http://www.norcrossgroup.com/forms/whitepapers/99%20Days%20whitepaper.pdf The Norcross Group The Intersection of Evidence & Technology http://www.norcrossgroup.com -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

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Dave Howorth
Greg Freemyer
Paul Neuwirth
Sandy Drobic
Tero Pesonen