Subject: Re: [vserver] Sponsoring VServer getting up to date with mainline
From: Ed W <lists@wildgooses.com>
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:57:55 +0100

Herbert Poetzl wrote:
> situation: one of my raid controllers suddenly failed
> and I need to replace it with a new one (currently
> the raid is offline, and I don't have access to the
> data). as I was not very happy with the controller
> (an Intel/LSI one, which only caused issues from the
> beginning), I want to replace it with a different
> model from Adaptec (specifically the RAID 31605), 
> which seems to have good support and all the features
> I am looking for.
>   

Just an aside, but can I ask why a fancy raid controller?

I personally LOVE the top end stuff, for example have some very good 
experiences with Compaq battery backed scsi controllers.  But I have had 
nothing but disappointment with even decent 3Ware controllers and I 
notice no difference at all over builtin SATA controllers, which coupled 
with a nice motherboard often mean you can have 8-10 controllers right 
on the bridge and hence high speed access

Battery backup is missing off the onboard controllers though and if you 
have a DB application (probably not if you are getting 1.5GB disks) then 
this is a big deal, but otherwise it's not likely to make much 
difference (hey not teaching you to suck eggs - I'm sure you already 
know if it will help your workload!)

In summary though unless you need the battery backup I would recommend a 
new motherboard with enough onboard ports to meet your needs - forget 
what I have but I bought some bits of the office machine and it supports 
my quad intel thing with I think 8+ sata ports?

>  and I could
> also make good use of three or four of those new
> 1.5TB SATA disks from Seagate (ST31500341AS) or the
> 1TB models (ST31000340AS) to retire one of my older 
> disk arrays (150-200 USD/ 120-150 EUR each)
>   

The 1.5TB have quite a price hike, even the 1TB are I think slightly 
above the sweet spot still?  I just bought 5x 1TB drives and the Samsung 
spinpoints were the best value - not had any problems with them so far, 
but don't load them much either.



Ed W