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Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller.

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On 2021-01-02 00:11, Steven Mainor wrote:
> All,
> 
> thanks for all the help so far. For all the people asking why, a few 
> reasons. First I love to tinker with and learn about things and the only 
> raid controller I have access to is on my production server and I don't 
> really get to "play" with it much since it is in use 24/7. I am one of 
> those people that learns by doing I guess.
> 
> The idea was to create a large striped raid array(perhaps RAID6) of 
> spinning disks to use as a large storage area for extra VM backups and 
> large projects I'm working on. And in the process I could learn more 
> about RAID controllers.
> 
> But perhaps this would be an opportunity to learn about ZFS or something 
> instead. 

Hardware vs. software RAID is a complex choice.  Each alternative has 
its benefits and drawbacks.  I'd suggest that you STFW for articles that 
compare and contrast the two for the kinds of goals you are trying to 
accomplish.


If you decide to go with hardware RAID, picking an identical card to 
what you already have, or a similar model from the same manufacturer, 
might have merit; if you like the card and it meets your needs.  This 
might allow you to leverage your knowledge of one to support both.


On Linux (including Debian), MD (multiple disk) and LVM (logical volume 
manager) are the obvious choices for software RAID.  Each have their 
respective learning curves, but they're not too high.


ZFS on Linux exists and works, but CDDL vs. GPL licensing issues prevent 
ZFS kernel support OOTB.  For data drives, using ZFS means installing 
the right drivers and/or userland tools.  But for ZFS-on-root system 
drives, AIUI the process requires more effort (STFW for instructions). 
When I wanted ZFS, I choose FreeBSD; the CDDL and BSD licenses allow ZFS 
kernel support OOTB, and ZFS is very well integrated into the OS.  ZFS 
has a larger learning curve than MD or LVM.


> Would ZFS be suitable if I were to boot multiple Linux 
> operating systems from time to time? For example, If I have the drives 
> setup with ZFS How hard would it be to boot to another Linux operating 
> system (like from Debain or Ubuntu from a pen-drive) and access data on 
> the "array".

So long as your OS of choice has ZFS support, then you can access ZFS 
datasets.


> And FYI most of the time I would still boot my computer from the single 
> SSD that my OS is installed on.

I also prefer to put one OS on one SSD, and I install trayless drive 
racks in my cases.


On 2021-01-02 00:24, Steven Mainor wrote:

 >> What Debian?
 > Debian 10? Or 9? I'm mainly looking for options.

If Debian 10 works on your hardware, use that.


 >> What Linux?
 > Any still supported main-line or LTS Linux kernel.

Assuming a 64-bit PC architecture, go with "amd64".


 >> What application(s)?
 > General storage.

You will get better results using a server for general storage than you 
will using a desktop.


You will get better results using a workstation for heavy workloads than 
you will using a desktop.


 >> What is your network/ environment?
 > Why is network information relevant for a RAID question?

Because you might be better off adding drives to a file server, adding 
another file server, and/or upgrading the connection between your 
desktop/ workstation and your storage box (faster LAN, specialized 
storage interconnect, whatever).


But for fast scratch storage for large amounts of data, local SSD's work 
very well.


On 2021-01-02 00:43, Steven Mainor wrote:
 > I missed this question in my last email. Apologies.
 >
 >> What is your computer?
 > It is an Asus X470 Motherboard, AMD 2700x Processor

Again -- You will get better results using a server for general storage 
than you will using a gaming desktop.


David

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Thread

recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Steven Mainor <steve@degga.net> - 2021-01-01 19:10 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. "Alexander V. Makartsev" <avbetev@gmail.com> - 2021-01-01 20:00 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Dan Ritter <dsr@randomstring.org> - 2021-01-01 20:00 +0100
    Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Sven Hartge <sven@svenhartge.de> - 2021-01-01 20:40 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2021-01-01 21:10 +0100
    Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Steven Mainor <steve@degga.net> - 2021-01-02 09:30 +0100
      Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Steven Mainor <steve@degga.net> - 2021-01-02 09:50 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Michael Stone <mstone@debian.org> - 2021-01-01 21:20 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Steven Mainor <steve@degga.net> - 2021-01-02 09:20 +0100
    Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2021-01-02 10:50 +0100
      Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-01-02 12:30 +0100
        Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Richard Hector <richard@walnut.gen.nz> - 2021-01-02 17:10 +0100
          Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Gene Heskett <gheskett@shentel.net> - 2021-01-02 17:50 +0100
        Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2021-01-02 22:40 +0100
          Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-01-03 10:30 +0100
            Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. David Christensen <dpchrist@holgerdanske.com> - 2021-01-03 22:50 +0100
              Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-01-04 08:30 +0100
            Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Stefan Monnier <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca> - 2021-01-03 23:20 +0100
            Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Michael Stone <mstone@debian.org> - 2021-01-04 02:00 +0100
              Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Andrei POPESCU <andreimpopescu@gmail.com> - 2021-01-04 08:40 +0100
                Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Michael Stone <mstone@debian.org> - 2021-01-04 14:40 +0100
    Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Sven Hartge <sven@svenhartge.de> - 2021-01-02 12:50 +0100
      Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Nicholas Geovanis <nickgeovanis@gmail.com> - 2021-01-02 16:30 +0100
        Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. Sven Hartge <sven@svenhartge.de> - 2021-01-02 17:30 +0100
        Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid  controller. Alain D D Williams <addw@phcomp.co.uk> - 2021-01-02 18:40 +0100
  Re: recommendations for supported, affordable hardware raid controller. deloptes <deloptes@gmail.com> - 2021-01-02 10:00 +0100

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