From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Wed Apr 9 07:05:20 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id CABD2106564A for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2008 07:05:20 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from lev@FreeBSD.org) Received: from ftp.translate.ru (ftp.translate.ru [195.131.4.140]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 89E2D8FC2F for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2008 07:05:20 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from lev@FreeBSD.org) Received: from desktop.home.serebryakov.spb.ru (unknown [89.163.10.141]) (Authenticated sender: lev@serebryakov.spb.ru) by ftp.translate.ru (Postfix) with ESMTPA id BC34813DF64 for ; Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:48:26 +0400 (MSD) Date: Wed, 9 Apr 2008 10:45:42 +0400 From: Lev Serebryakov X-Mailer: The Bat! (v3.99.3) Professional Organization: FreeBSD X-Priority: 3 (Normal) Message-ID: <396418019.20080409104542@serebryakov.spb.ru> To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Subject: [SO]HO Software RAID5 server: which implementation should I choice? X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list Reply-To: lev@FreeBSD.org List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 09 Apr 2008 07:05:20 -0000 Hello, freebsd-stable. Does somebody use some software RAID5 on FreeBSD in real production system? I want to build storage server for my home: RAW photos, multi-layer PhotoShop files and FLAC-encoded music consume a lot of space, and they should be availible both from desktop & notebook. Also, all photo-content is unique, so I need some insuranse from single HDD crash. I understand, that I will not safe from fire, PSU failure and thing slike this. I selected hardware platform: Intel Q35-based MoBo with 6xSATA-II ports (all of them is chipset-based, so no SiliconImage/JMicron/Whatever crappy controllers), some low-end Core2Duo, 2Gb of memory. Storage will be 5x500Gb WD HDDs for RAID + one small HDD for boot, system, swap, etc. I want to have 2Tb (ok, not real Tb, I know) of "protected" storage. I want to have maximum speed via 1Gb network, because graphic files are big and should open fast. Not as fast as local ones, I understand that, but speeds about 12-15Mb/s is not enough for sure :) Only problem I see: which software RAID5 solution should I prefer? FreeBSD-based, of course! I see these variants: (1) FreeBSD 6(7?) + graid3. Slow, one disk for checksums is bottleneck, as far as I understand. (2) FreeBSD 6(7?) + gvinum/radi5. Is it stable enough?! Is it complete? when I try it about 6 months ago in VMWare installation with 5 virtual disks, I got panics and strange behaviour after "crashing" one of virtual disks. (3) FreeBSD 6(7?) + graid5. Again, is it stable enough? There are THREE versions of it. Which one should I prefer? There was long thread about it some times ago without any clear conclusion. Does something changed? (4) FreeBSD 7 + ZFS "zraid". And again: stability. Too many messages about locks, crashes, etc. Code is experemental. Is it only for 32 bit systems? (5) Do I miss something? (6) Solaris + ZFS? I don't want it, I know a little about Solaris administaration, and I already have FreeBSD servers and routers. I know, that 3ware or Areca controllers are very good. I know, that "gmirror" is very stable. But these variants are too expensive for home server :( Does somebody use some software RAID5 on FreeBSD in real production? Any advices? -- // Black Lion AKA Lev Serebryakov