[CentOS] SCSI controller suggestions for a 5.x server?

[John R Pierce]

Rob Lines wrote:
> We are preparing for a new file server (Dell 2970) with an external 
> disk array with integrated RAID (raidking.com <http://raidking.com>).  
> The array presents via Ultra 320 SCSI.  We are looking for anyone that 
> has had experience or opinions on SCSI cards without RAID that have a 
> good performance working under CentOS 5.x.  Any suggestions/comments 
> on the controllers with large storage especially at or above 2tb would 
> be appreciated.

the dell 2850's I've been bringing up have a dual channel LSI Logic 
ultra320 scsi controller built in, these work quite well.     I don't 
know offhand if they have an external scsi connector, however.   I'd 
suggest the equivalent LSI Logic SCSI card, I believe its the 53C10xx 
series, in PCI-X or PCI Express X4, whichever your server has...

someone else said PERC, those are Dell's raid controllers, obviously not 
what you want with an external SCSI RAID

I'm curious why you chose SCSI instead of SAS at this point in time?  
External SCSI cabling is expensive and trouble-prone.   _ALWAYS_ make 
sure _EVERYTHING_ is shut off completely before touching those external 
cables.     Don't cheap out on the cables, either.