Help with ML350 RAID configuration.....

[redwolf27]

Hi Folks,

I am new to the forums here and looking for some advice.. I work for a medium size gov't organization and we are in the process of upgrading our SQL/IIS server. I am ordering an HP ML350 G4P Dual Xeon 3.0 ghz, 2 gig ram, 200/400 tape drive, 2 76 gig and 3 146 gig drives.

Now initially i was just going to order the Tower model without any additional RAID controllers. My intention was to run the system (OS) partition with RAID1 (mirroring) using the two 76 gig and RAID5 (stripe set w/parity)for the data partition using the 3 146 gig drives both through the onboard scsi controllers. And configure raid through Windows Server 2003. But after looking on these forums and talking to a few other people they tell me that I am far better off ordering a RAID5 card to run the stripe set on a hardware level. And avoid using RAID through the OS. Our current server runs RAID1 through the OS with no glitches. Also I have been told that running RAID5 on an SQL server is not recommended.

If I am to buy the RAID5 card should I still run RAID1 on the onboard controller for the system partition? I guess I am just a little unsure what the configuration should be... I know I have asked alot of questions here but any advice would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

 

[TheLad]

RAID1 for the System partition and RAID5 on a RAID controller for the data partition(s) is a standard config run by many companies so you should be ok with that config. Not too sure about the SQL/RAID issues but I have found the following quotes on the Net:

"RAID (redundant array of independent disks) levels 0, 1, and 5 are typically implemented with Microsoft® SQL Server™ 2000."

"RAID 5 has a pretty significant write penalty. Many systems mitigate this with a battery backed write cache though."

Note: most decent RAID controllers have this as standard

-----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[terry712]

i never run any disks from anything except an array controller. the onboard is fine for sdlt, lto's etc but not disks

do the newer 350's not come with on board 6i ?
not sure if you can split the backplane on these or if this is only on the bigger ones

the 5 against 1 arguement is one that will never be solved
i suppose at the end of the day - it's how big is the database - if it's under 72gb and will never ever conceivable get above this then i would raid 1 it and logs on seperate raid - if it's going to be a 200+ monster then costs etc kind of forces the raid 5