Re: [exim] [OT] RAID (was: Re: Which hardware do you use for…

Ward Vandewege wrote:
> On Thu, Jun 12, 2008 at 09:49:57AM +0100, Martin.Hepworth wrote:
>> Software raid isn't optimal....never has been
>>
>> Hardware raid is the way to go if you need RAID.
>
> ... and if you buy a spare hardware raid controller of *every type you have
> in use*.

Good advice, but not always so.

I've had very good luck migrating between/among even different (chipset)
brand of controllers *so long as* the array was simple RAID1.

All bets are off for RAID 5 (3, 4, 6 ..et al), of course.

Also with RAID1 (only), nary a problem mounting a surviving HDD to a
non-RAID controller.

SCSI, of course.

(P|S)ATA too-often-pseudo RAID is another matter - and given the general
fade-out of SCSI, an important one.

>
> That's the main disadvantage of hardware raid over software raid - if the
> controller dies, you're dead in the water unless you have a spare that's
> exactly the same time. With software raid, if the controller or box die, you
> just stick the disks in another box and you're on your way.
>
> Thanks,
> Ward.
>
>

'Usually'. This presumes same OS and reve level (taking ATACONTROL and
GMIRROR as examples).

Bill