RAID with SATA

Ishtim · 2nd Dec 2008, 07:37 AM

Firstly, I am a NOOB when it comes to this...

Has anyone put together a RAID with SATA drives? Not sre 0, 1, 5 etc... but, I am looking for a solution to use with a pseudo-server and was wondering what my options were with current hardware/software? The setup will have 5 workstations accessing the "server" that hosts a database. I would like to assure reliability and speed of <250GB of data.

I guess Ineed to know what hardware you'd reccommend too.

Thanks!

Chai · 2nd Dec 2008, 08:37 AM

Only consider RAID 5 IMO. RAID 0 doesn't give you redundancy, RAID only works with 2 HDDs.

Adrian Wong · 2nd Dec 2008, 06:52 PM

You can also try RAID0+1 which would give you data redundancy and faster throughput. But it is less cost-efficient than RAID 5 because it requires at least 4 HDDs to work (instead of just 3 for RAID 5).

RAID 5 can be done via software but because it requires parity calculations, it will incur some penalties in CPU usage.

Ishtim · 3rd Dec 2008, 02:14 AM

So it looks like RAID0+1 using 4 or more drives and performance goes up (along with costs) as you have more drives. I guess my next question is about "onboard" southbridge RAID controllers for example: ASUS Mobo ?

Are there benefits to onboard vs PCI add in's?

I was talking to my bro-in-law that has some experience with IDE & SCSI RAIDs and he said,

Quote:

While this is true, my first-hand experience with IDE drives is not very good. We use a Promise (hardware appliance) RAID device that has 8 IDE drives in it. These drives just don’t have the intelligence to handle “hard” use. They flake out fairly often and require chkdsk to be run to resolve integrity problems. SATA disks may work better, I just don’t know.

What are your opinions?

Told you I was green!

PsYkHoTiK · 3rd Dec 2008, 02:51 AM

The addin cards (well the more expensive ones) are hardware RAID (onboard dedicated processor and ram). The ones through the mobos are software raid.

I'm about to build a RAID 0 Array (Windows Home Server backs my PC up everyday so not worried about redundency) and I will be using software RAID via my ICH9R southbridge. Software RAID takes up resources (CPU and RAM - but hardware RAID has those on the cards but they cost an upwards of $150) but Phok pointed out that I have plenty to spare (gone are the days that a 'desktop' environment lags).

Ishtim · 3rd Dec 2008, 11:06 AM

So would you buy a hot-rod mobo/CPU w/Southbridge controller 3rd party RAID controller? Is SATA much improved from IDE in a RAID setting? Or should I just have auto backups "after hours"?

Chai · 3rd Dec 2008, 11:57 AM

Personally, I feel that having a external backup is far more reliable than running RAID. RAID is only good if you want to reduce downtime.

That's why most commercial servers have both RAID and tape backups. If uptime is not your main concern, try using an external HDD for backups.

PsYkHoTiK · 3rd Dec 2008, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ishtim

I was talking to my bro-in-law that has some experience with IDE & SCSI RAIDs and he said,

The drives that I am getting for my RAID 0 array are WD RE3 drives. They are enterprise level drives and are optimized for RAID arrays. Pretty much a Caviar Black thats been tweaked and tested (and costs quite a bit more clams).

They are SATA drives so if you are going that route, you might wanna look at them.

WD RE3 250 GB SATA Hard Drives ( WD2502ABYS )

Got mine for 65 a piece shipped (it's expensive for 250GB drives but from what I've read they are crazy on RAID).

mikegas · 3rd Dec 2008, 06:05 PM

Uh oh. Raid0+1 ready hardware, check out wd sharespace. 4 drives up to 4tb..

Ishtim · 3rd Dec 2008, 11:12 PM

My biggest concern is that the server storage becomes corrupt, second is downtime.

Here are the "requirements" from the database software developers:

Quote:

Minimum (4 workstations or less)
Win XP Pro
2.4 Ghz or greater processor
2GB Ram
80GB HD or better 7.5k RPM
100 MB Wired Lan
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Source) battery backup

Recommended
(5 workstations or more or large data sets/ replication )
Win 2003 Server
2.4Ghz Dual Core or Xeon Processor
3GB of Ram
160 GB Hard Drive
100 MB Wired Lan
10 / 100 Ethernet Card for Networking
UPS (Uninterrupted Power Source) battery backup

The only other info is this...

Quote:

All networks or stand alone configurations must have a way to backup their data.

As you see there is no explicit requirement for redundant/non-fault storage and that's what SCARES

me... It will be on me if it bombs...

I saw RE2 & RE3 WD drives too...

Looks like I have some reading to do?

2nd Dec 2008, 07:37 AM	#1 (permalink)
Ishtim Super Moderator Join Date: 14 May 2003 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 3,765 Reputation: 3333 Rep Power: 43	RAID with SATA Firstly, I am a NOOB when it comes to this... Has anyone put together a RAID with SATA drives? Not sre 0, 1, 5 etc... but, I am looking for a solution to use with a pseudo-server and was wondering what my options were with current hardware/software? The setup will have 5 workstations accessing the "server" that hosts a database. I would like to assure reliability and speed of <250GB of data. I guess Ineed to know what hardware you'd reccommend too. Thanks! Last edited by Ishtim : 2nd Dec 2008 at 07:48 AM.

2nd Dec 2008, 08:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	Only consider RAID 5 IMO. RAID 0 doesn't give you redundancy, RAID only works with 2 HDDs. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

2nd Dec 2008, 06:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Adrian Wong Da Boss Join Date: 10 Oct 2002 Location: In front of my ASUS F8V notebook! Posts: 32,299 Reputation: 3574 Rep Power: 75	You can also try RAID0+1 which would give you data redundancy and faster throughput. But it is less cost-efficient than RAID 5 because it requires at least 4 HDDs to work (instead of just 3 for RAID 5). RAID 5 can be done via software but because it requires parity calculations, it will incur some penalties in CPU usage. __________________ Dr. Adrian Wong Tech ARP \| Blog @ Tech ARP \| The Free Trade Zone DYKT : The only offshore account I have is at the sand bank? We need PROGRAMMERS and TECHNICAL WRITERS! Contact us if you are a hot shot programmer or technical writer! My items for sale : 50x SD Card \| Memory Stick PRO \| Cyclone Energy Saver \| Seiko SS watch \| Tiger/Carlsberg beer jugs \| Travel Speakers \| Motorola V600 \| Nokia N90 SOLD! \| New Lowepro Mini Trekker AW Other items for sale @ the FTZ : Zalman CNPS9500 LED @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7700 Cu @ $20 \| Zalman CNPS7000 Cu @ $20 \| Swarovski bracelet watches \| Dell 17" LCD \| Hi-Fi speakers \| English DIVX movies \| HP LaserJet toners! \| Office chairs

3rd Dec 2008, 02:51 AM	#5 (permalink)
PsYkHoTiK "Little" Devil Join Date: 8 Apr 2004 Location: On the "throne" Posts: 14,661 Reputation: 4442 Rep Power: 64	The addin cards (well the more expensive ones) are hardware RAID (onboard dedicated processor and ram). The ones through the mobos are software raid. I'm about to build a RAID 0 Array (Windows Home Server backs my PC up everyday so not worried about redundency) and I will be using software RAID via my ICH9R southbridge. Software RAID takes up resources (CPU and RAM - but hardware RAID has those on the cards but they cost an upwards of $150) but Phok pointed out that I have plenty to spare (gone are the days that a 'desktop' environment lags). __________________ Intel SLAPL 4.3GHz @ 1.35v : 2x2GB OCZ Platinum DDR2 1066 : Asus P5K Premium : WD RE3 250GB x2 RAID 0 : 3ware 9650SE-2LP : G92 8800GTS 512mb 820MHz Core : XFi Platinum : Silverstone OP650 : Silverstone TJ-07 : Dtek FuZion CPU : Swiftech MCW60 : MCP655 : Thermochill PA120.3 w Scythe Ultra Kaze CPU-Z: SLAPL : SLA9U : FX-55 : DDR 600 : VX www.techarp.com PsYkHoTiK's Meanderings

3rd Dec 2008, 11:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Chai Administrator Join Date: 6 Oct 2002 Location: Maranello Posts: 27,884 Reputation: 4630 Rep Power: 81	Personally, I feel that having a external backup is far more reliable than running RAID. RAID is only good if you want to reduce downtime. That's why most commercial servers have both RAID and tape backups. If uptime is not your main concern, try using an external HDD for backups. __________________ Chai (Contributor & Forum Admin) http://www.techarp.com/

3rd Dec 2008, 11:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Ishtim Super Moderator Join Date: 14 May 2003 Location: Alabama, USA Posts: 3,765 Reputation: 3333 Rep Power: 43	So would you buy a hot-rod mobo/CPU w/Southbridge controller 3rd party RAID controller? Is SATA much improved from IDE in a RAID setting? Or should I just have auto backups "after hours"?

3rd Dec 2008, 06:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
mikegas I'm a regular Join Date: 7 May 2008 Posts: 464 Reputation: 206 Rep Power: 4	Uh oh. Raid0+1 ready hardware, check out wd sharespace. 4 drives up to 4tb..

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