Date: Mon, 17 Dec 2001 09:31:31 -0600 From: Cymen Vig <cvig@raw-io.com> To: Victor Meirans <vic@is.lv> Cc: FreeBSD-isp@FreeBSD.ORG Subject: Re: IDE Raid controllers on FreeBSD Message-ID: <3C1E0FD3.5000405@raw-io.com> References: <3C1DCF87.3080806@is.lv>
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Victor Meirans wrote: > Does anyone have the experience with IDE Raid controllers on > FreeBSD??? What models/manufacturers would you recommend? A what with > the drivers??? I am planning buing one, 'cos software raid seems to be > kinda slow for me... I have a 3ware Escalade 6200 in a Freebsd 4.4-stable box. I am using it with 2 20 gig Maxtor drives in a RAID mirror but I did run bonnie++ on it with it configured as a 40 gig stripe. I'm happy with the Escalade but just so we are all on the same page recently 3ware stopped selling their IDE RAID cards then changed their minds and returned to the market due to demand. I don't know anymore than that and IDE RAID is part of their core business (see their other products) but I thought I would mention it... Hardware: Celeron 550 Mhz (100 Mhz FSB) 440BX motherboard 512mb RAM 3ware Escalade 6200 (latest firmware) 2 x 20gb Maxtor D740X-6L (7200 RPM) with acoustic management left to factory default (on) <http://www.maxtor.com/products/diamondmax/techsupport/technicalprocedures/21007.html>; RAID stripe: static# /usr/local/sbin/bonnie++ -r 512 -s 1024 -d /mnt/twe/ -u root Version 1.02 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random- -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks-- Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP static.raw-io.co 1G 22318 96 70591 91 17579 24 18807 97 65507 44 238.4 2 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create-------- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP 16 464 81 +++++ +++ 3033 49 492 80 800 99 1341 84 static.raw-io.com,1G,22318,96,70591,91,17579,24,18807,97,65507,44,238.4,2,16,464,81,4 RAID mirror: root@static:/home# bonnie++ -u root -s 1024 -r 512 Version 1.02 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random- -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks-- Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP static.raw-io.co 1G 20986 94 31321 42 12913 17 18410 96 33787 22 311.2 2 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create-------- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP 16 544 93 +++++ +++ 7895 95 594 97 771 97 1772 98 static.raw-io.com,1G,20986,94,31321,42,12913,17,18410,96,33787,22,311.2,2,16,544,93,+++++,+++,7895,95,594,97,771,97,1772,98 For comparision a 40gb 7200 RPM Maxtor 5T040H4 on a Promise Ultra66 IDE card (not RAID) that was in the same machine: static# /usr/local/sbin/bonnie++ -r 512 -s 1024 -d /home -u root Version 1.02 ------Sequential Output------ --Sequential Input- --Random- -Per Chr- --Block-- -Rewrite- -Per Chr- --Block-- --Seeks-- Machine Size K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP K/sec %CP /sec %CP static.raw-io.co 1G 21645 95 29567 39 13861 22 18529 97 31890 21 167.2 1 ------Sequential Create------ --------Random Create-------- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- -Create-- --Read--- -Delete-- files /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP /sec %CP 16 561 94 +++++ +++ 7024 95 612 98 781 97 1721 98 static.raw-io.com,1G,21645,95,29567,39,13861,22,18529,97,31890,21,167.2,1,16,561,94,8 Some other IDE RAID providers to look at are Adaptec and Promise... Apparently while some cards have the majority of the IDE RAID functionality on the card (Adaptec, 3ware) others have a lot of the functionality in the drivers (Promise). I don't know how true that is so perhaps others can confirm this... Also the 3ware (and I presume the Adaptec) support hotswap while the Promise does not (again, confirmation would be good). Personally I use the 3ware products where IDE RAID is needed and the Promise Ultra66/100/?? where fast regular IDE is needed. StorageReview.com should have reviews of all the products in question. Cymen Vig cvig@raw-io.com ObDisclaimer: benchmarking drives is a pain in the rear because the speeds are different depending on where the head is (ie closer to the center of the disc or out at the edges) so these benchmarks while fun and dandy are inherently flawed and should be taken with a grain of salt. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-isp" in the body of the message
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