linux raid controller

[Soybomb]

I'm going to be setting up a linux box soon and I want the absolute best in reliability. Redundant power supplies, etc. I usually use freebsd so I don't know what will really work well with linux. I need a raid controller for linux that will give good status messages, let me rebuild arrays with hotswapping disk trays and the like without powering down. I wouldn't even mind IDE (parallel or serial) over scsi to save some money if its still a quality board and can do all that stuff. Any suggestions of favorites that have worked for you?

 

[n0cmonkey]

Adaptec is usually well supported.

 

[Nothinman]

Most of our stuff is HP/Compaq and the SmartArray cards work really well. I'm not sure how much config stuff is in Linux though since I don't work directly with them a lot.

 

[groovin]

if u go ATA or SATA, i recommend 3ware. supported by 2.4 and 2.6. 3ware is also supported pretty well by freebsd (twe?). not sure how good hotswapping is on these though, its supposed to be possible. ive rebuild mirrored and raid5 on these cards... went very smoothly. tech support is also very responsive and you dont get a typical first tier drone, the guys really know their product (and linux). as for all the admin stuff and alerts... you can monitor and manage it via the web accessible 3dm software. officially, the software only supports RH and Suse, but i've gotten it to compile and work on other linux flavors (but other people have had issues).

 

[Soybomb]

I'm looking at a 3ware Escalade 8506-4LP, the 3ware RDC-400 Drive cage (ouch $200), and some raptors to go in it.....

 

[groovin]

if youre not using RH or Suse, you might want to try installing the 3dm software first... because if you cant get that running, then youve just wasted time acquiring all that hardware.