RAID 5 PCI card (1 Viewer)

[milhouse]

Eetaylog:

so youre saying that its actually pretty pointless adding different (larger) disks to an already existing RAID5, if for example one of the disks dies, as you dont actually get to use the extra space anyway?

That's not quite what I am saying. A couple clarifications:
-if you use a larger disk in the RAID set, the unallocated space can be allocated as a non-RAID partition. So it doesn't have to be "lost" space. So if you add a 640GB drive to your 4*500GB array, you could still use 140GB for something else.
-by "adding a larger disk to a larger array" I am not exactly sure what you mean. You could add any disk as a hot spare, and just allocate the extra space. If you mean actually expand the size of the array, that you CAN'T do with Windows software RAID. It's called "on-line capacity expansion". Most hardware-based cards support that, and Linux software RAID supports that, but not Windows.



Also, don't look at the boot screen for whether they are considered software. A RAID card generally shows status during boot, so it may list 4 hard drives during boot but only show a single drive to Windows. Check disk manager.

one last question regarding PSU's... with my current setup, all my PSU connectors are being used, leaving no room for expansion. how do people manage to power larger numbers of HDD's?? ive seen server setups with anything up to around 12 disks! surely you cant just add more PSU's because the computer has to have common ground doesnt it?

Pfft. 12 disks. I've got 15, and have hot sway bays to add another 5 before I even have to crack the case. (Search "milhouse media server" on this forum to see my setup.)

I am using two PSUs in my case. But the case (CM Stacker) was designed for 2 PSUs and came with the right jumper so they both turn on/off at the same time.

I have used a few Y-connectors to split one power connector into 2. But that is easier when that power supply isn't actually running the MB. I think you'd be safe with a Y connector and splitting a few more power connectors it you have a decent sized PSU.

 

[moab]

I took a look at your 'milhouse media server' which is impressive.
When you put it under heavy load how does the processor utilization look?
Have you run any bench mark software on the array volumes to confirm speeds.
How is the noise level? I have had industrial grade disk arrays in data centers and those brutes are noisey.
It makes my MP 2 disk 1TB RAID 0 array look puny. Incidentally I noticed Tiger Direct has 1TB drives for $79.

 

[eetaylog]

just read your server thread also, and its pretty epic, well done on a great project.

id like to expand on my current server setup in a similar way (but probably scaled down quite a bit!), but am thinking it might be best to wait for the dedicated NAS systems (like this one )to become a bit more affordable?

 

[Gixxer]

just read your server thread also, and its pretty epic, well done on a great project.

id like to expand on my current server setup in a similar way (but probably scaled down quite a bit!), but am thinking it might be best to wait for the dedicated NAS systems (like this one )to become a bit more affordable?

why limit to a system like that where the max is 4 TB? why not create your own server? im curious

i have recently build my first server machine, will create a thread soon with specs, pictures, info, ....

its running great so far.

 

[milhouse]

moab-
Even under heavy load (e.g. I had a disk die on the 8x500GB array, and replaced the disk last night and started the rebuild) the CPU load is pretty low - still under 10%. That's with the CPU running at full power. I can't use the power saving feature of the processor because TV Server and cool 'n' quiet don't get along. Terrible stutter.

I have run no benchmarks, because like I mention, I am not too concerned with speed. Fast enough to copy 3 DVDs down there every three days. It takes about 45 minutes to copy a 6GB file over the network. Note great, but I am not sure if it's the disks or the network, since the network is at around 75% utilization during the copy.

Noise is about what you'd expect for something with 7 fans and 15 hard drives. I wouldn't want to sleep with it in the room. But still better than some small business server-class disk arrays.


eetay-
Actually, the NAS devices are not a bad way to go. Especially something like a Drobo. There are expandable (or at least the Drobo is). With a Drobo, you could start with 4x500, then swap one the disks one at a time with 1TB (swap, let rebuild, swap the next, repeat). When all disks are replaced you have all your data on a 4x1TB array without moving it around. Just sure whatever you get is expandable. Then you swap disks instead of adding disks. That's my only option - add disks, move data around, and optionally remove disks.

Of course with NAS devices you get only storage space. I use mine for Tv Server, too.

Thanks for the compliments, though!
Jason