Initial SCSI disk configuration 1

[NTguy2B]

I am in the process of setting up a new server (Compaq 7000 w/3 drive bays which hold six 1&quot; hot swap 9.1 GB SCSI drives each, with a 2DH card installed). Of course, I am after the most efficient and reliable configuration.<br>
I have installed NT Server 4.0 SP5 on a 1.75 GB partition on the first drive of one of the bays. I am now ready to configure the rest of the drives.<br>
I am looking for suggestions for the best solution, including the best fault tolerance and maximum useable drive space in a raid 5 configuration.<br>
I don't want to reinvent the wheel.<br>
Thanks for all replies.

 

[Zelandakh]

6 x 9.1 Gb at RAID 5 = 45.5Gb volume.<br>
<br>
Used 1.75Gb on one drive! Options:<br>
<br>
Certainly, mirror the nt partition to another drive for tolerance.<br>
<br>
Six drives, tolerance on winnt<br>
9.1Gb - 1.75Gb = 7.35Gb across all 6 drives = 36.75Gb volume<br>
1.75Gb mirrored to drive 2 for winnt tolerance.<br>
1.75Gb partition on drive 3 for pagefile.sys<br>
1.75Gb partitions on other 3 drives gives 3.5Gb RAID 5 volume on top of other volumes.<br>
<br>
Five drives, no tolerance on winnt<br>
9.1Gb across all 5 drives = 36.4Gb volume and spare 7Gb volume (no tolerance).<br>
<br>
Four drives, tolerance on winnt<br>
9.1Gb across all 4 drives = 27.3Gb volume and mirrored 7Gb volume.<br>
<br>
Personally I'd go for the 6 drive option. In fact, its pretty much what I did here.

 

[Warcorp]

Yeah, I would agree, dedicate all 6 drives to the 2DH's drive array (raid 5 in hardware kicks butt) as a single virtual drive. You can then break it to software partitions all you like.<br>
<br>
<p>Jim Collin<br><a href=mailto:Jim@collin.cc>Jim@collin.cc</a><br><a href=

http://www.collin.cc>Collin

Technologies</a><br>Consumer Technology Integration<br>

 

[NTguy2B]

Thank you for the info.<br>
That is what I was looking for.<br>
Only question left would be:<br>
What about the other 12 drives?<br>
I probably was not clear enough, We actually have 3 drive bays in this machine. Each drive bay holds 6 drives each, for a total of 18 - 9.1 GB SCSI hot swap drives.<br>
We more than likely will start with only one bay using six drives, so the replies are perfect.<br>
But, how would the other drive bays be handled, if I am still looking for the hardware raid solution?<br>
Will I need another 2DH card?<br>
Seems like a system like this should have come complete with a complete solution.<br>
If another controller card is needed for a full 3 array hardware raid (won't do, spent enough already), then what would be the best solution for all 18 drives as equiped?<br>
Would each array get a controller, one from the motherboard and one each from the 2DH?<br>
Would the array handled by the mother board be the best location for system, OS, Applications, Pagesys, etc.(possibly mirrored), and then use the 2DH arrays (raid 5)for data?<br>
Would would be the advantages/disadvantages of making the 18 drives connected to the 2DH a single volume?<br>
Thanks again<br>
<br>
Jack N. van Steyn<br>

 

[Warcorp]

The 2DH allows you to add drives to the raid5 array on the fly. When your ready to expand the system, simply add the drives and run the compaq drive array config utility and it will allow you to expand the array.<br>
<p>Jim Collin<br><a href=mailto:Jim@collin.cc>Jim@collin.cc</a><br><a href=

http://www.collin.cc>Collin

Technologies</a><br>Consumer Technology Integration<br>