Moar storage!

**jcool** · 09-22-2009, 09:14 AM

Usually it's more cores, but this time I need more space. My current Raid 5 storage array is bursting (4x 6400AAKS so "only" 1,8TB usable) and the two 1TB HDDs I have are also pretty much filled.

So, time for an upgrade

1x Perc5i w/ 512mB Cache module
4x Samsung F2 Eco 1,5TB

Will be run in Raid 5 for an initial ~4,2TB of usable space, with the option to upgrade to up to 10TB usable

Notice these disks are Samsung... I checked all the reviews and prices and these are the cheapest, quietest and fastest 5400RPM storage disks currently out there. Still, after my nightmarish experiences with the F1 series (6 out of 10 dead...) I will run them for a few weeks before I'll put any data on the array

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Some benchies - Settings: 256k stripe, Adaptive Read-Ahead + Write-Back Caching, 512MB Cache module, full size Raid 5 array (~4,2TB)

Pretty nice performance, except for the high random access (which is to be ecpexted really from 500GB-platter 5400RPM drives) - but I don't care about that for storage so it's fine.

Notice the 100MB Crytsal DiskMark run is pretty much a benchmark of the controller's cache, so I included the 1000MB as well. 4k sucks, but again, to be expected.
Doesn't affect me either, I sure as hell won't have any 4kb files on a 4TB array

**jcool** · 09-22-2009, 12:58 PM

...and it's in! Building array now.. This card seems REALLY fast and mature with the latest LSI firmware, the LSI console only shows an estimate of 4 hours for over 4TB init

**Angmaar** · 09-22-2009, 01:52 PM

Nice upgrade. It must be super fast in RAID!

**artemm** · 09-22-2009, 01:58 PM

Bench 'em!

I'd like to compare to the setup I have in my sig

**jcool** · 09-22-2009, 05:26 PM

What benches do you wanna see? I used to run HDTach R/W on new arrays but that only works on XP I'm afraid... ATTO and Crystal Disk maybe, tho all I care about for this is sequential throughput.

**artemm** · 09-22-2009, 07:55 PM

Whichever one you feel like. I just want to see what ballpark my setup is in and to compare the Dell controller vs. Adaptec (which I had a choice between, but I went with the Adaptec.)

**Martijn** · 09-23-2009, 12:12 AM

How come you had so many problems with the F1 series? I have used dozens of these and never had trouble with any of them...

**jcool** · 09-23-2009, 01:49 AM

Originally Posted by artemm

Whichever one you feel like. I just want to see what ballpark my setup is in and to compare the Dell controller vs. Adaptec (which I had a choice between, but I went with the Adaptec.)

Ok, running now. Tho you got 7200RPM disks right?
What kind of XOR/Cache does that 4805 Adaptec have? I also have a 5805 Adaptec, that runs Raid 5 with 4x WD6400AAKS (benched in June 08 with initial firmware, it's a lot faster now):

**jcool** · 09-23-2009, 03:07 AM

Benches added

**billdavis** · 09-23-2009, 04:02 AM

pertty good for a ~100.00USD controller ehh

**emuexport** · 09-23-2009, 04:31 AM

Mmmmm very nice mate!

My cables for my Perc 6i just arrived so maybe we can have a bench-off

**jcool** · 09-23-2009, 05:05 AM

Originally Posted by billdavis

pertty good for a ~100.00USD controller ehh

Definitely, thanks again mate

Right now it's encrypting the Array... 30h to go

**Martijn** · 09-23-2009, 11:27 AM

Beat this

**jcool** · 09-23-2009, 11:42 AM

Easy, let me just make a ramdisk on my 2Ghz HCF0's

**Martijn** · 09-23-2009, 12:01 PM

Originally Posted by jcool

Easy, let me just make a ramdisk on my 2Ghz HCF0's

That's not fair

**artemm** · 09-23-2009, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by jcool

Ok, running now. Tho you got 7200RPM disks right?
What kind of XOR/Cache does that 4805 Adaptec have? I also have a 5805 Adaptec, that runs Raid 5 with 4x WD6400AAKS (benched in June 08 with initial firmware, it's a lot faster now):

256kb stripe, read and write-back cache enabled. This controller only has 128mb of ECC, maybe that's why it's so much weaker. This has pretty much been the status quo for this thing.

Yep, 7200rpm drives. Were cheap and have been running fine so far.

**poke349** · 09-23-2009, 11:11 PM

Originally Posted by jcool

Easy, let me just make a ramdisk on my 2Ghz HCF0's

And how big would it be? Anything less than a like 32GB is hardly enough for storage.

**Duh** · 09-25-2009, 05:45 AM

I love your projects, but I didnt get why you chose those hdds tgat you said they were not any good for you ( apart from being cheap)

**jcool** · 09-25-2009, 06:00 AM

I didn't say that - I just said I had horrible experiences with Samsung due to the first batches of F1's being bad, that's all.
Kinda hard to trust a manufacturer after that big a screw-up.

**06F150fx4** · 09-25-2009, 08:09 AM

Very nice man. I have a couple of raid5 arrays myself. It will be time to expand my arrays again soon.

**jcool** · 05-22-2010, 12:15 AM

Thread resurrection - just wanted to report I am seeing no issues at all with the setup. It's been running fine 24/7 ever since day 1

**Duh** · 05-22-2010, 09:31 AM

100 % uptime? whoa thats amazing! can those controllers be found at any decent price?

**=[PULSAR]=** · 05-22-2010, 09:33 AM

Just noticed your new title Josh

I LOVE IT!

**[XC] Oj101** · 05-22-2010, 09:49 AM

That's awesome

Now upgrade that cache. Oh, and rotate the HSF closest to the back 90' clockwise

**jcool** · 05-22-2010, 10:47 AM

Upgrade the cache? To what? It's already got 512MB.. that's the maximum for a Perc5 card (and more than enough anyway.. overkill even for a pure storage solution)
Oh and yeah, the fan is standing upright now

CPU coolers have been changed as well.. can be seen elsewhere.. somewhere... on PGs website definitely

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