Intel Matrix RAID

[Thor86]

Considering setting up for a decent ESX server, and wondering if RAID 10 is worth the extra disk/IOPS over RAID 5.

This is not a critical system, just a test server setup.

Would also be using Intel ICH9 on a P5K Premium board.

Your thoughts? Thanks.

 

[cprince]

I would go with RAID 10 because RAID 5 would cause more CPU overhead(which you don't want because you are running ESX server). If you have a hardware RAID expansion card, then I would tell you to go with RAID 5.

 

[Blain]

If you absolutely must build a RAID array of some kind...
I'd also go with RAID 10 over RAID 5, for better redundancy/reliability.

 

[postmortemIA]

if he says it is a test server, then RAID10 has no advantages...

 

[Thor86]

Great points everyone. Keep them coming.

Also, another question regarding Intel Matrix Storage with ICH9, does it provide hot swap capability, or do I need to power down the server before replacing a faulty drive, or can I just hot-swap a SATA drive and do a re-build of the RAID array?

 

[cprince]

Originally posted by: Thor86
Great points everyone. Keep them coming.

Also, another question regarding Intel Matrix Storage with ICH9, does it provide hot swap capability, or do I need to power down the server before replacing a faulty drive, or can I just hot-swap a SATA drive and do a re-build of the RAID array?

http://www.intel.com/design/ch...s/matrixstorage_sb.htm

I think that it depends on the chipset that you have

 

[Thor86]

Originally posted by: cprince

Originally posted by: Thor86
Great points everyone. Keep them coming.

Also, another question regarding Intel Matrix Storage with ICH9, does it provide hot swap capability, or do I need to power down the server before replacing a faulty drive, or can I just hot-swap a SATA drive and do a re-build of the RAID array?

http://www.intel.com/design/ch...s/matrixstorage_sb.htm

I think that it depends on the chipset that you have

Thanks for the link. I would assume any controller/chipset that supports AHCI support hot-swap. Anyone with first-hand experience with this chime in to confim this or provide their feedback would be greatly appreciated.