From owner-freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG Fri Sep 12 06:26:40 2008 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D363A106564A for ; Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:26:40 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gandalf@shopzeus.com) Received: from viefep20-int.chello.at (viefep20-int.chello.at [62.179.121.40]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 233D28FC28 for ; Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:26:39 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from gandalf@shopzeus.com) Received: from [192.168.2.175] (really [89.134.231.52]) by viefep31-int.chello.at (InterMail vM.7.08.02.02 201-2186-121-104-20070414) with ESMTP id <20080912061117.RJKL13823.viefep31-int.chello.at@[192.168.2.175]>; Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:11:17 +0200 Message-ID: <48CA0804.5080508@shopzeus.com> Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 08:11:16 +0200 From: Laszlo Nagy User-Agent: Thunderbird 2.0.0.16 (X11/20080724) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Cc: Tony Nagy - SHOPZEUS Subject: Intel Server Board S5000PSLROMB + SAS ROMB X-BeenThere: freebsd-hardware@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: General discussion of FreeBSD hardware List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 06:26:40 -0000 I'm about to buy a new server. There is a local distributor here and they offered good prices. The server will have 2 SAS disks in RAID-1 and 8 or 10 SATA 2 disks in RAID 1+0. Others told me that I MUST ask the hardware list before I buy it. Here is their opinion: > I don't know anything about how well this Intel RAID performs under > FreeBSD, but you should check that if you haven't already. From the > little bit I read about it I'm concerned if it's fast enough for as > many drives as you're using. The wrong disk controller will make a > slow mess out of any hardware you throw at it. And here is the hardware: - Boxed Intel Server Board S5000PSLROMB with 8-port SAS ROMB card (Supports 45nm processors (Harpertown and Wolfdale-DP) - Intel® RAID Activation key AXXRAK18E enables full intelligent SAS RAID on S5000PAL, S5000PSL, SR4850HW4/M, SR6850HW4/M. RoHS Compliant. - 512 MB 400MHz DDR2 ECC Registered CL3 DIMM Single Rank, x8(for s5000pslromb) - Intel® RAID Smart Battery AXXRSBBU3, optional battery back up for use with AXXRAK18E and SRCSAS144E. RoHS Complaint. - 4-drive SAS/SATA backplane with expander (requires 2 SAS ports) for SC5400BRP and SC5400LX (two pieces) The basic question is: - how well is this configuration supported in FreeBSD 7? - is this RAID controller fast and reliable with 10 or more disks? Can it take advantage of the disks, or should I use a different controller? Thanks, Laszlo