[CentOS] how do export a block device via eSATA?

Rudi Ahlers Rudi at SoftDux.com
Tue Feb 15 08:05:47 UTC 2011


On Tue, Feb 15, 2011 at 9:49 AM, Jeff Hefner <jeffhefner at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've started building a JBOD out of a Supermicro case for expanding
> the available storage on my home network. So I have a few comments
> about what I learned so far about using Supermicro as JBODs.
>
> Supermicro has several multi bay chassis as part of their current
> product line but I'm looking to do this on a budget so I took the ebay
> route. I found some reasonably priced 12 bay cases use "Supermicro 12
> bay" as your search criteria. I found a good deal that cost a tad over
> two hundred bucks. I was a bit drawn to the Supermicro chassis since
> they make a power card that allows the front power button to control
> the power supply without a motherboard. It is designed with the
> intention of using the cases as JBODs.
>
> CSE-PTJBOD-CB1
>
> The backplane port(s) can be mapped to the outside with something like this:
>
> http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/
>
> Since my case doesn't have an expander backplane and is instead
> comprised of 12 individual SATA ports In my case I'll end up with
> three ports exposed since each connector supports 4 drives. If you
> have an expander backplane it could be as simple as a single cable.
>
> >From there you'll connect the external SAS ports to a SATA/SAS
> adapter. It is possible to get SATA/SAS cards that already have
> externally available SFF-8088 ports or if they are all internal you
> can expose them externally by using the same SFF-8088 PCI brackets on
> the server side.
>
> I intend on hooking this JBOD up to a couple of computers which is why
> I am not just putting a motherboard and running it as a full on
> server.
>
> On a side not since this is for home usage a few things I plan on
> doing to make it better suited is replacing the hotswap 800 watt power
> supply with something high efficiency and at least half the watts and
> use quieter fans possibly putting them on some kind of speed control
>
>
>
> jeff
>
>
>


Jeff, what you did is exactly what I want todo as well :)

And, while thinking about how todo it on the cheap, I thought about
using eSATA for it.

The only options I could find what SATA port replicators, but they're
limited to 4/5 ports each. And I can't find a supplier in our country
for them, so I guess I'll have to import them, which will end up
costing an arm and a leg again. Our import duties are expensive.


Which SAS expander did you use? Our local SuperMicro suppliers have
limited products available so if I need something that they don't
have, I'll have to convince them to get it for me.

Upto now they've sold me full blown servers with iSCSI interconnects,
which is expensive if I don't actually use the motherboard, CPU or RAM
for anything useful.


I'm also considering going another route, but it seems that suppliers
in our country simply don't like selling loose components. Why, I
don't know, but I guess someone has to milk the poor clients of their
money.

-- 
Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
SoftDux

Website: http://www.SoftDux.com
Technical Blog: http://Blog.SoftDux.com
Office: 087 805 9573
Cell: 082 554 7532



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