Killer harddrives and don't know what to do with it!

[Think]

Hi

I have 7 SCSI Seagate 15.4K 148G harddrives and 3 Adaptec 39320A dual channel adaptors as well a the 2932 Adaptec Single channel SCSI card.

The motherboard in the Asus WS edition that has 2 PCIX slots to allow for 2 of the above cards to be installed but I'm not sure how I should configure this. The Adaptors will allow each channel to run Raid 0,1,10.

System is for everyday use, video editing and burning, gaming.

Main objective, image OS and backup data. I was also thinking that the back up drives could be used when needed by putting a switch on the main power input - after all, what's the point of having them spin and wear if I'm not backing up ever second - just flick the switch.

What do you think? 2 drives Raid 0 on one channel and the other 2 channels for single channel operation? Raid 1? Not sure...don't have to use all the drives either, whatever I don't use I will sell off.

Thanks.:D

[Zardokk]

Setup a RAID 0+1 configuration. That way, you have the speed of RAID 0 and the security of RAID 1. Basically, you set up your first two drives in RAID 0, then you set your other two drives in RAID 1 with the RAID 0 drives. You can find detailed instructions for how to do it online, I'm sure...

And sense you'll have three drives left over, set up two of them in another RAID 1 or 0 setup and sell the seventh drive.

[Serra]

I'd say run RAID 0 on the first channel, and set up the other two as a RAID-0 storage volume and just schedule nightly/weekly/whatever backups (you can even use the handy Backup feature in XP to do this) instead of running RAID 1.

By implementing this solution, you will cover your desire not to have them in use unless you explicitly want them to be because they won't be spun-up unless you're using them (unlike running RAID 1, which would involve them being used whenever your RAID 0 array was) but will also receive the following benefits:
1. You do not need to create a power switch solution
2. Your RAID-0 backup volume will operate just as quickly as your normal volume
3. If you chose to mirror your RAID 0 volume with a RAID 1 volume on the second controller you would be essentially using all ~300GB of those two hard drives for however much data is on your RAID 0 array - and if you're only using around 100GB or so, that's a LOT of waste
4. You will have an extra storage area. A backup of data is generally compressed and therefore takes up less space, so even if you filled your 300GB volume, you'll only fill like 280GB on your backup drive, allowing you an additional 20GB of storage (actual numbers will vary, that's just an example).

Downside:
1. You will have to re-install your OS if a hard drive goes down in your primary area, but then all you have to do is run the backup program and restore your data + system state and BAM, you're back to where you were before.

EDIT:
I'd also suggest keeping 1 hard drive around just in case one ever does die, then you can sell the adapter + 2 other hard drives (the max it supports) to someone (like me) as a set. And feel free to PM me a price on that set...

[Think]

PM will be sent and thanks for the advice:)

16K or 32K or 64K for stripe size?

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

2 drives in RAID 1 for OS; other 5 in RAID 5 for data/apps.

[Serra]

2 drives in RAID 1 for OS; other 5 in RAID 5 for data/apps.

If the controllers don't do *real* hardware RAID 5, please don't do that. If they do though then that may not be a bad idea..

[Think]

They don't do Raid 5, only Raid 0, 1 and 10

[Steensen]

Then stick to Serra's advice/surgestion.