Hi all
I'm looking at upgrading my server as I have run out of storage space (single 128GB boot SSD + 2TB HDD)
I'm looking at getting an 8 port RAID 5 controller and 3x 3TB disks. Now I would like to be able to purchase a 3TB disk in the future and be able to expand the RAID 5 array without having to rebuild the array (i.e. just expand the storage from 6TB to 9TB when putting in a new drive). Is this possible at all?
Also of course I do have a budget, the cheaper will be the better. I’m trying to get the card in the $150 range.
I have been looking at the following RAID controller cards:
Intel SRCSAS18E:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-SRCSA...EN_Servers&hash=item588686ae7d#ht_2922wt_1110
Intel SASMF8I :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-SASMF...RAID_Cards&hash=item58935fa2c1#ht_2067wt_1110
Are either of these any good? I’m not after anything for super speed or anything, my primary need is extra space followed by redundancy. I was originally going to get a ‘hardware assisted’ (software) RocketRaid RAID card for $100 but I have read that they are horribly slow (as in, max ~20MB/s). I wouldn’t mind something around the 100-120MB/s mark.
Also before RAID 1+0 is recommended; while I would love to do this, I simply can’t justify/afford the extra cost for it. The super important stuff is backed up onto the boot SSD drive, and everything is on the primary computers anyway (this server is the backup solution).
Finally other than the RAID card, are there any particularly good 3TB drives for RAID5? Should I be looking at 7200RPM or 5400RPM? While I want it to be as power efficient as possible (as it runs 24/7), I have read that there are problems with the 5400RPM (‘green’) drives that they turn off when not in use which is painful for RAID5. Is this true?
Thanks!
I'm looking at upgrading my server as I have run out of storage space (single 128GB boot SSD + 2TB HDD)
I'm looking at getting an 8 port RAID 5 controller and 3x 3TB disks. Now I would like to be able to purchase a 3TB disk in the future and be able to expand the RAID 5 array without having to rebuild the array (i.e. just expand the storage from 6TB to 9TB when putting in a new drive). Is this possible at all?
Also of course I do have a budget, the cheaper will be the better. I’m trying to get the card in the $150 range.
I have been looking at the following RAID controller cards:
Intel SRCSAS18E:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-SRCSA...EN_Servers&hash=item588686ae7d#ht_2922wt_1110
Intel SASMF8I :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intel-SASMF...RAID_Cards&hash=item58935fa2c1#ht_2067wt_1110
Are either of these any good? I’m not after anything for super speed or anything, my primary need is extra space followed by redundancy. I was originally going to get a ‘hardware assisted’ (software) RocketRaid RAID card for $100 but I have read that they are horribly slow (as in, max ~20MB/s). I wouldn’t mind something around the 100-120MB/s mark.
Also before RAID 1+0 is recommended; while I would love to do this, I simply can’t justify/afford the extra cost for it. The super important stuff is backed up onto the boot SSD drive, and everything is on the primary computers anyway (this server is the backup solution).
Finally other than the RAID card, are there any particularly good 3TB drives for RAID5? Should I be looking at 7200RPM or 5400RPM? While I want it to be as power efficient as possible (as it runs 24/7), I have read that there are problems with the 5400RPM (‘green’) drives that they turn off when not in use which is painful for RAID5. Is this true?
Thanks!