New Server - Hardware RAID - Knowledgebase

Portal Home > Knowledgebase > Articles Database > New Server - Hardware RAID

New Server - Hardware RAID

Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 10:24 AM
So I've finally decided to take the plunge from a dedicated box to colo'ing. I'm "building" a server on Newegg right now and just have one last detail I haven't decided upon yet, a hardware RAID card. So far, this is what I have. AMD Opteron 6134 Magny-Cours 2.3GHz 8 Core Supermicro MBD-H8SGL-F-O 4x Kingston 4GB DDR3 1066 ECC Registered Antec EA750 750W 1x Samsung Spinpoint 500GB - OS Drive 4x Hitachi 7K2000 2TB 7200RPM - RAID 10 ARK IPC-4U600 4U Case And various other small things such as CPU cooler and optical drive. Any comments on the build and more specifically which RAID card I should use? I'd like to learn more about them but articles that are helpful are harder to find than others for more common hardware. The intended use for this server is virtualization and backup solutions. Backup solutions will be started on this box but eventually moved to another server as demand grows. And as always, I know RAID is not a backup solution. I have offsite servers ready for that. Thanks!
Posted by mds85, 05-30-2010, 10:42 AM
I like Adaptec's RAID cards best out of all of the other manufacturers. In my opinion their quality-to-price ratio is unbeatable. http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/product...ance/SAS-5805/ 1.2GHz dual-core on-board processor, that's a beast.
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 10:52 AM
Would I be shooting myself in the foot trying to get a hardware RAID card for around $250-$350?
Posted by mds85, 05-30-2010, 10:58 AM
Not at all. It depends on how many devices you are looking to hook up. http://www.adaptec.com/en-US/product...ntry/SAS-2405/ 3Ware is good too, but after their acquisition by LSI, they don't seem to be rolling out new products and their current line is terribly outdated. Best of luck, you may also consider a 2U chassis for better airflow.
Posted by n3r0x, 05-30-2010, 10:59 AM
On that type of server yes.. would go with something like mds85 posted.. hdd to hdd takes 0-1% cpu on upto 1.2gb/s (we tested on at 900MB / s)
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 11:11 AM
Right, well the plan right now is to go with 4x 2TB drives in a RAID 10 plus a fifth drive not in the RAID for the OS. I have done smaller simple software RAID 5's but never a hardware raid setup. I'd assume I would hook the 2 TB drives upto the RAID card and the OS drive would connect straight to the motherboard? The reason for the 4U case is I would eventually like to double the storage to 8 2TB drives. That case has 9 3.5" bays so that works out perfect.
Posted by MikeTrike, 05-30-2010, 11:28 AM
That should work fine. I'd try to get it down to a 2U case if possible, 4U is just a waste of space and money if you colo it. You can generally get 1U-2U for $75-$100/mo to start, 4U is going go be $150+ which is an unnecessary recurring expense.
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 11:44 AM
I actually have a business acquaintance who is going to give me some colo space in Nashville for $175/mo for any server I want, power, and 5mbps b/w up & down. This is on Level 3's Network so routing should be excellent and he's not capping me so I can use more if I need.
Posted by MikeTrike, 05-30-2010, 12:26 PM
Thats not bad, though, I'd still jump into a 2U instead and save $50-$75/mo. Saving $600-$900/year is an extra server you can buy per year.
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 12:33 PM
It's the same price for any size server. And especially for Nashville, it's a good price. Space is dirt cheap. Most DC's I've been too are barely half full. Bandwidth is what will usually kill you. After price shopping, that same BW elsewhere would cost me a couple hundred alone.
Posted by MikeTrike, 05-30-2010, 12:41 PM
Ahh if its the same price go for it.
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 12:47 PM
What do you guys think would be a good card to support 4 drives that is in the $250-$350 range that is still a true hardware based card? Last edited by RN-Chris; 05-30-2010 at 12:52 PM.
Posted by MikeTrike, 05-30-2010, 01:44 PM
In the $200 price range, the Adaptec 2405 hands down rocks balls! Excuse the expression http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816103102 Ignore the newegg reviews, they are dipsticks, I have a half dozen of these things. You'll also need the cable: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16816103197
Posted by Server Management, 05-30-2010, 02:55 PM
I think your asking for trouble doing it this way, I,d rather have 2 machines than one with all them drives shoved in. Regards
Posted by RN-Chris, 05-30-2010, 06:55 PM
Well at this point, the server would be converted to a NAS.

Add to Favourites Print this Article