[CentOS] software raid

[Feizhou]

chrism at imntv.com wrote:
> Feizhou wrote:
>>
>>>> argh...i missed the raid5 on 3ware part.
>>>
>>> Ah.  No, I am using RAID0 since this is just scratch space for 
>>> editing large uncompressed video files.
>>
>> Man a 3ware for RAID0? :D
>>
>> I cannot wait for port multiplexer support on libsata (or is it 
>> libata?) in Centos 5. An elcheapo AHCI or whatever SATA controller + 
>> Linux software raid will own 3ware cards on a price/performance basis :D
>>
> 
> An 8-port 9550SX card is only US$500.  Why on earth would I mess around 
> with software RAID when that card is going to make things a plug and 
> play proposition?  It just isn't worth the hassle.

Yes, a 3ware card + large case will always be cheaper than trying add 
external storage via eSATA. I forgot the environment :P

As for hassle, I guess it is only a hassle on Linux...

> 
>>>
>>> Disks are so cheap and high enough capacity now that I don't even 
>>> bother with RAID5 anymore.  I still don't think (even if I was using 
>>> RAID5) that I would stray from the "vendor supported" ext3 filesystem.
>>>
>> Not when you need that fileserver to serve. I'd go with JFS. XFS is 
>> too risky even if the code was not iffy. ext3 + 3ware RAID5 arrays is 
>> that bad. IIRC XFS was somewhere like 4-5 times faster than ext3 and 
>> no, i am not talking about 3ware 75xx/85xx boards. I am talking 3ware 
>> 95xx boards with onboard RAM.
>> _______________________________________________ 
> 
> If you need to serve files in an enterprise situation and you *cannot* 
> afford a $500 RAID card, then I think you've got more pressing issues.  :)

Er...I was referring to not using ext3 on a 500USD RAID card that it 
does not gell with.