I've used 3ware cards for awhile without issue as RAID controllers. I'm just looking to use ZFS RAIDZ2, and not use the hardware RAID functionality. It seems that all of the disk controllers now have RAID regardless.
Is it advisable to get a controller with a BBU and enable write-back cache on the controller? Or is that not going to gain me anything with ZFS?
Does anyone have a cheap controller recommendation that works well and is under $100? I plan to put 6 SATA disks on the motherboard controller, and use the RAID card for the 3 SSD's (2 log, 1 cache) and hope to serve up a few (4-6?) VM's in a ESX farm. I could use the hardware RAID1 for the Log SSD or should I let ZFS do that mirror also?
Also open to cheap SSD suggestions, will probably get some 32GB drives for log and larger for cache. I planned to use cheaper MLC SSD's for the log and just replace them every few years vs expensive SLC drives.
Thanks in advance
Mark
Is it advisable to get a controller with a BBU and enable write-back cache on the controller? Or is that not going to gain me anything with ZFS?
Does anyone have a cheap controller recommendation that works well and is under $100? I plan to put 6 SATA disks on the motherboard controller, and use the RAID card for the 3 SSD's (2 log, 1 cache) and hope to serve up a few (4-6?) VM's in a ESX farm. I could use the hardware RAID1 for the Log SSD or should I let ZFS do that mirror also?
Also open to cheap SSD suggestions, will probably get some 32GB drives for log and larger for cache. I planned to use cheaper MLC SSD's for the log and just replace them every few years vs expensive SLC drives.
Thanks in advance
Mark
