Ricky Beam wrote:
I supposed you've forgotten linux has software
RAID capability. I assure
you, no RAID card within your budget will outperform the system processors
even under load. While I generally recommend the use of hardware RAID,
you don't have one of those in hand. So, unless you're going to go buy
one *right now*, software RAID will do. (you *are* making backups, right?)
O.k., that's a useful recommendation, even if I do feel like you're
yelling at me. :-)
When I was at the colo this morning, I tried to setup the hardware
RAID for safety, safety, safety as encouraged by everyone, but I
failed. The LSI setup utility told me that the version of the
firmware doesn't support RAID. Since the card itself is alleged (by
the Internet) to support RAID, I'm guessing all I have to do is update
the firmware, but I figured I'd come back home and research that since
the machine is going to be running memtest86 overnight anyway.
RAID 5 via software RAID sounds better to me than straight mirroring
using the hardware RAID, because 36GB isn't very joyful for us. 3
36GB drives will give us 72GB-ish logical space on a RAID 5 array,
with safety as well.
I have not setup software RAID in some years, but presumably it isn't
hard?
--Jimbo