RAID Controller suggestions

[jjmil03]

Hey guys!

Have a question for you. I'm looking to make an 8 HDD capable NAS using freeNAS. I'm going to go with the 3 TB Red Hard Drives, but I was wondering what the best RAID controller would be for that. Reading through the forums, it sounds like I need one that will do JBOD so that FreeNAS can do ZFS (I was going to set up ZFS1 or 2...still haven't decided yet).

What kind of RAID card would support this?
I was going to go with one that does multilane...does that sound right?
Would a RAID controller be better than just getting a motherboard with at least 8 SATA ports?


This is going to be a media server, primary with just me as a user (I use a Boxee to stream to the TV). When I deploy, it may service 30 or 40 people, but that would be the maximum of it's capability (and I'm not even sure if I will bring it along when I deploy).

So if you have any suggestions, or multiple based on the differing usage scenarios, I'd really be interested in your opinions. If you wouldn't mind adding a link to it so I can find it, I would appreciate that as well!

If you have any other suggestions for the below product list, I'm all ears as well...still missing a few key components, so it's not complete yet.


Product list so far:

Intel B75 Micro ATX Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130655

Supermicro Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811152241

Addonics CompactFlash to SATA Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812174010

Intel i3 CPU 3.1GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115090

WD RED 3 TB HDDs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236344



Jon

 

[survive]

Hi jjmil03,

If you want to do ZFS you want a plain old dumb HBA (host bus adapter), not a pricey hardware raid card. ZFS works best when it has direct control of the drives and an HBA card makes that possible.

The IBM M1015 is pretty much the go-to card with FreeNAS these days:

http://www.servethehome.com/ibm-m1015-part-1-started-lsi-92208i/

I would suggest you do some googling and see if your chosen board has any reports of success using a non-video card in the PCI-e 16x slot. Some BIOS don't like such a setup.

8 drives is kind of tough because you can really get the needed ports with a cheap little 2 port 1x PCI-e card instead of dropping $100 on a proper LSI controller.

On a side note...no need for the CF to SATA hardware. CF is indeed faster than a USB key, but overall it won't make your filer run faster...it will just boot faster. Take the $40 the adapter & CF card would cost & put it toward the M1015 and it gets down to a $60.00 price difference.

-Will

 

[jjmil03]

I can't find that card for less than 100 dollars...is that about right? Also, it looks like those cards are end of life...is there another card out there that will do it that is of a current model? Just curious..I don't want to buy something old that is going to break on my if I can help it (at least not right away).

I know it's more expensive, but would this do the trick? Is there anything else in the price range for that Intel card that is currently out there?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816118100


The CF to SATA keeps me from having to use a USB key on the outside of the computer, which I will most definitely lose if I take this overseas. Keeping it self contained was why I went ahead and added the CF to SATA adapter. I guess I could run a USB back into the case, but figured it would be sort of ghetto.

 

[jjmil03]

I'll check out the mobo documentation as well...thanks!

 

[survive]

Hi jjmil03,

The card you linked to from Newegg is actually a generation older than the M1015 and won't do drives bigger than 2TB.

The M1015 is actually the IBM OEM version of this card: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816118112

only difference is the connectors are in a different place (presumably they wire up to IBM's backplanes better that way I guess).

Given my choice I'd look at a Supermicro X9SCL series socket 1155 board to pair with that case with the cash I saved getting the M1015 instead of a new LSI-branded HBA.

-Will

 

[jjmil03]

Wow...thanks for the save. Hard to tell what generation is what sometimes...

I'll try and find one and go with that. I'll take a look at the mobo you mentioned as well. Thanks!


Jon

 

[jjmil03]

Updated product list:

Product list so far:

Supermicro Motherboard (Mini ATX)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182251

Kingston 32GB Unbuffered ECC Memory (2 pair)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820239371

Supermicro Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811152241

Addonics CompactFlash to SATA Adapter
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812174010

Intel i3 CPU 3.1GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115090

WD RED 3 TB HDDs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822236344

Total: $2,289.86 + however much for the M1015 (looking on eBay and such....)

Anyone have any ideas on how to lower the cost and get roughly the same speed let me know. I am considering removing the SATA/CF card/adaptor as one option, though I'd sort of like to get it around 1500-1700...

Jon

 

[survive]

Hi jjmil03,

If you could edit your post and give the price breakdown, that will make it easier to find you some savings.

I think there are sites out there that actually let you post your system config for scrutiny & suggestions, sort of like pastebin.com that might make it easier.

First thing I can tell you is to forget the CF adapter, no real need for it with that SM board (take a look at the pic on newegg, right next to the SATA ports there's an internal USB port).

Your biggest (fixed) cost is obviously going to be the drives at ~$1400.00 I don't know that we can pare down the rest of the system that much more without some serious compromises.

You could certainly go in a completely different direction and go all AMD with 8 SATA ports on the board & a nice Fractal Design R4 case. Nothing wrong with AMD, just be sure to add an Intel "CT" NIC.

-Will

 

[jjmil03]

Would there be a big difference if I went with a motherboard that had 8+ SATA ports as opposed to the M1015 controller?