PCIe sata controller compatibility

[ferroresonance]

Hi All , firstly my apologies is this thread is duplicate of a question some one else has asked

Hardware:
HP proliant n54l, 16GB Ram 5x 3TB Seagate Barracuda drives setup in Raidz.

FreeNAS Version and build:
FreeNAS-9.10.1-U2 (f045a8b)

FreeNAS Volume and Data Set:
1x Volume using 5x 3TB split into 3 Data sets as windows share

Question:
I want to add 2 more 3TB drives to my micro server. The only port i have left is the eSata which i dont want to use (cable bumping/accidental removal, etc.).
What i would like to do is install a 'SilverStone ECS03 ASMedia 1062R SATA Controller' which will give me another 2 internal sata ports. Will this card be compatible with freeNAS? and if not can anyone recommend a tested 2 port Gen2 PCie sata controller card

Link to 'SilverStone ECS03 ASMedia 1062R SATA Controller'
http://www.scorptec.com.au/product/Controllers/SATA-&-SAS/64478-SST-ECS03

 

[Ericloewe]

If you had read the Hardware Recommendations Guide, which can be found in the Resources section and is linked in my sig, you would've read that the only truly reliable option for additional disk connectivity is an LSI SAS2 or SAS3 HBA.

I have yet to see a single PCI-e SATA controller that behaves well enough to be trusted. Marvell, ASMedia, Adaptec and everyone except LSI and Intel (and AMD, I guess) has yet to release a product that is reliable under FreeBSD.

 

[danb35]

Most SATA controller cards will be compatible with FreeNAS; the problem is that they're almost universally garbage. The safe answer is to buy a SAS HBA like the LSI 9211-8i (or one of its many rebadged models--IBM M1015, Dell H200, etc.), make sure it's running the proper firmware, and use a SAS breakout cable to your drives. Typically under US$100 used from eBay.

 

[anodos]

If you need MOAR DRIVES, you can install an LSI 9207-4i-4e, and stick a 2U JBOD expansion shelf underneath your N54L in addition to cramming drives inside the NAS chassis.

 

[ferroresonance]

Hi All, thanks for the responses, i have decide to buy/use the SilverStone ECS02 LSI 9211-8i SAS/SATA Controller its only $299 au and add an additional 3x3TB drives and rebuild and run raidz2.

 

[Ericloewe]

I know the Australian market is weird and all, but surely you can get a real LSI card for less. Or a more trustworthy rebadge.
I wouldn't be surprised if Silverstone were using Shenzhen Market Back Alley "spares" from LSI's factory.

 

[ferroresonance]

Hi Eric, your right i did find a cheaper New LSI 'brand' from china, its a three week delivery buy hey i am in no rush. I guess i just rushed into solution mode than stepping back and thinking

 

[Ericloewe]

from china

Woah, now that's a very good way of ending up with a fake

 

[ferroresonance]

i just cant win with you ;) Nothing purchased yet still looking for a good recommended brand and cost effective.

 

[Ericloewe]

Well, it's like this:
Locally-sourced LSI from reputable retailer > locally-sourced reputable rebrand from reputable retailer > locally-sourced niche rebrand from reputable rebrand >>>>> anything sourced on ebay from China.

 

[Stux]

I just bought a good M1015 australian server pull off eBay for 95AUD delivered. As in last week. It's now in production.

To go with an M1115 I bought earlier for 85AUD delivered.

Both were from Australian used server parts suppliers on eBay.

Both flashed to 20.0.0.7 IT with no problems and are working flawlessly.

 

[Stux]

This seems like a good deal on a Dell Perc H200

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-47MCV-PERC-H200-SAS-SATA-RAID-Card-/172380049837?nav=SEARCH

58AUD delivered. 3 month warranty. From an Aussie parts trading company in Qld.

I have no experience with H200 cards, but they look like every other LSI 2008.

 

[Ericloewe]

This seems like a good deal on a Dell Perc H200

http://m.ebay.com.au/itm/Dell-47MCV-PERC-H200-SAS-SATA-RAID-Card-/172380049837?nav=SEARCH

58AUD delivered. 3 month warranty. From an Aussie parts trading company in Qld.

I have no experience with H200 cards, but they look like every other LSI 2008.

Cross flashing them is a bit more involved, but the process is documented somewhere on the forum.