View Full Version : RAID 5 card for Low-End Server.
Hey guys,
My old server is getting to be pretty outdated now and it is now just a pile of spare parts that I have added to it over the years. So I’ve decided to build a new server this year rather than a new desktop. The server will house a ton of media that will be accessed by a few different computers. I need the data to be redundant and fast so I’m looking for a nice RAID 5 solution and I’ll probably go with at least 1/2 TB of storage. The only RAID 5 Cards I have experience with are the high end Adaptec line. Does anyone have any recommendations for a nice RAID 5 for a home solution? I'm trying to find a nice medium between price and functionality.
Promise S150 SX4-M controller. The "-M" indicates it includes a 64MB ECC memory module. I ended up getting the "-M" version because it was available locally, and they gave me the same price as the non "-M". I paid ~CDN$250 (~US$200).
http://img18.exs.cx/img18/6079/img43868cu.jpg
Kingston 256MB ECC PC133 CL2 SDRAM. I upped the cache to 256MB so I wouldn't have to wait for writes when bursting data to the array (ie: dumping pictures off a digital camera CF card). Never tried it with the 64MB, so I can't say what kind of difference it makes. I'm using it as a write back cache - but I'd highly recommend a UPS if you go this route (one that lasts 2min is fine, just so the drives can finish writing the data in the cache before the computer turns off).
http://img146.exs.cx/img146/9962/img43876ib.jpg
The computer assembled. My array drives are 4x 200GB Seagate 7200.7 series. Very quiet. Very Fast. 5yr warranty. Recommended if you don't have drives yet. Gives 600GB usable space. CPU is a 330J (2.66 Celeron-D E0 with advanced thermal management and NX-bit). Motherboard is an Asus P5GDC Dlx, because I wanted Dolby Digital Live! encoding so I could just run an optical cable to my receiver to play MP3s. Works well. The P5GDC also contains a PCIe gigabit controller, so the PCI bus won't get swamped when I upgrade the rest of my network to gigabit. I also have a 80GB Seagate 7200.7 running off the southbridge for OS/apps/games. Video is an X700pro using a TV for a monitor. Case is an Antec Sonata. Its great - notice how the array drives slide out the side (on rails) in case you ever have to replace one.
http://img19.exs.cx/img19/3622/img44225bm.jpg
Various drive benchmarks. Its faster then my 100Mbps network. Notice the access time ;)
http://img101.exs.cx/img101/1812/atto3tl.gif
http://img153.exs.cx/img153/5679/hdtune3zr.gif
http://img167.exs.cx/img167/8290/hdtachf0jf.gif
edit: For spelling
edit2: Some people have reported stuttering problems with this controller when using a RAID 5 array as a boot drive and WinXP. As far as I can tell, these problems have been resolved with newer BIOSes and drivers.
It's also reported to be slow (for some reason) in a three drive RAID 5 array. But fine in a four drive array.
sandrock
02-01-05, 11:46 PM
That looks like a nice RAID card.
I am also planning on building a server to house media and am also looking for a RAID 5 setup. Are there any SATA RAID5 cards out yet that use PCIe? That's what I'm really interested in finding.
XeonStrikeForce
02-02-05, 12:00 AM
well may not be within your price range but the Adaptec 2100-S is an Awsom SCSI controller it can go to 128megs ECC Cache :) any dual proc will do.
That looks like a nice RAID card.
I am also planning on building a server to house media and am also looking for a RAID 5 setup. Are there any SATA RAID5 cards out yet that use PCIe? That's what I'm really interested in finding.
There have been some announced, but none on the market yet. I thought about waiting for one, but then decided that on a board with both PCI and PCIe busses, I could drop in a PCI RAID controller and not have to worry too much about bandwidth if the NIC was located on the PCIe bus.
The one thing I would have liked was a NCQ controller. But all the NCQ controllers are $$$, and I didn't fell it was worth it at this time. And with a 256MB write back cache I never have to wait for writes anyways.
I was also under a bit of time pressure, as one of the drives in my old RAID 1 array failed and I wanted to set up a new redundant array as soon as possible.
Cjwinnit
02-02-05, 09:50 AM
The above-mentioned Promise controller also has a PATA conterpart if you happen to already have the drives handy. For some reason it's highly advised to use ECC rather than non-ECC RAM.
Thanks for the write-up JCLW. Thats exactly what i was looking for.
When i was looking for the controllers i did notice some PCIe, but i think i'm going to stick with the regular PCI because i may buy the controller and drives before i get the rest of the system.
What do you think about this card?
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=16-115-015&depa=0
Its quite a bit cheaper but it doesn't have a memory slot.
Not only does it lack a memory slot (I believe it has 64MB built in, or at least some), but more importantly it lacks a hardware XOR processor, meaning it will be very slow (especially at writing - think between 2 and 10 times slower, depending on what you're doing). I've also had better luck with Promise devices over the years then I have Highpoint ones.
Personally I'd go for the Promise (I guess you already knew that), but if you're not worried that much about speed then go for the Highpoint.
For some reason it's highly advised to use ECC rather than non-ECC RAM.
That's because if you have a memory error when you're using your computer, it just crashes. However, if the drive cache has an error and it goes undetected, you might continue to use the array for a week before you notice that all the data you've written is corrupt. ECC isn't that much more expensive, and well worth the piece of mind IMHO.
Not only does it lack a memory slot (I believe it has 64MB built in, or at least some), but more importantly it lacks a hardware XOR processor, meaning it will be very slow (especially at writing - think between 2 and 10 times slower, depending on what you're doing). I've also had better luck with Promise devices over the years then I have Highpoint ones.
Personally I'd go for the Promise (I guess you already knew that), but if you're not worried that much about speed then go for the Highpoint.
Well i guess the max speed that it will generally see is limited by the network which is 1Gbit. Its a server so everything will be passed over a network. It would be pretty rare that anyone actaully sits at the server.
Well i guess the max speed that it will generally see is limited by the network which is 1Gbit. Its a server so everything will be passed over a network. It would be pretty rare that anyone actaully sits at the server.
1Gbit = ~100mb/s.
Having said that, it's rare that you'll get a full sustained 100mb/s over a gigabit connection. Generic gigabit cards will only average about 500mbit, or ~50mb/s. A good card (ie: intel PRO/1000 MT) will do 750mbit (~75mb/s).
just for clarification:
b=bit (always lowercase)
B=byte (always uppercase)
1 B = 8 b
1 gbs = 125 MBs
and you are correct a perfect network will usually only pull 75% of its assigned rate.
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