RAID speed issues - time for an upgrade

[NugentS]

Current Situation:

I have a Server that runs various VM hosts. It is responsible for the AD, Mail and AV Server plus any other functions that I require of it. Its an AMD 64X2 3800+ with 4 GB Ram on an Asus mobo of some description. Graphics is a standard PCI card I suspect - not sure - it hasn't been opened for so long. Disks are 9 400GB disks (2 * RAID 5, 1 standalone). One array is provided by a Promise Fastrak SX4 the other by the onboard Silicon Image controller.

Problems:

1. Disk access is slow - it feels slow and runs slow on both arrays. This is true even with the VMs not started

2. From time to time, when stressing the RAID arrays - the computer looses connection to the network which is somewhat inconveniant. Everything is still running at the console - just no network connectivity. This requires a shutdown and restart to fix. This MIGHT be a problem with the switch - but it feels like the computer as it also happens when copying across the arrays. I have also tried changing NICs - no effect.

My current ideas are as follows - I am looking for input from anyone who has an idea or suggestion please...

Disks:

Purchase something like a 3Ware AMCC/3Ware 9650SE-12ML KIT, 3xMulti-lane (12-port SATA II), PCI-Express (x8), 256MB Hardware RAID controller which will run 12 drives of 3 multilane ports.

Add some external E-Sata cases like http://www.span.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=8232&source=gbaseuk&currency=GBP to remove the drives from the case (helps keep heat down in the case and reduces the load on the PSU). An alternative mounting for the hard disks is still in the case but use a hotswap chassis like an Icy Box something or other. If the drives stay in the case they are definately going hotswap if in external cases then it doesn't matter so much. I have also considered NAS - but most NAS boxes are slow - I could build my own NAS using Linux - but thats another PC and I am trying to cut down.

Replace Mobo, processor and memory if nesessary. Mother board should be simple, possibly with onboard graphics, a PCI-Express (*8 or better) slot for the RAID Card and as few additional features as possible. This will NOT be overclocked. I tend to boot off a single hard disk for the VM Host so its simple to rebuild - and its only the host anyhow... as long as the VMs are safe!! I would go for a faster processor - but don't care whether its AMD or Intel as I will not be buying bleeding / leading edge.

I am looking for comments, suggestions whatever before I go ahead bucket of money on this...

I have about £800+VAT available for this although the less I spend - the better.

Thanks

Sean

 

[nrage]

From the description I would suspect the existing raid controllers to be at fault, especially the onboard one. Are the NIC's which fail onboard as well?

Does the existing mobo have a PCI-E 8x slot?

If you were going to go with the 3Ware AMCC/3Ware 9650SE-12ML then you'd want the 8x PCI-E.

I've only used RAID 0 and only on a desktop PC so I can't really suggest anything from first hand experience.

I believe a dedicated card like the 3Ware one will result in better performance than the onboard option as I suspect onboard controllers often steal CPU and/or memory to do their job.

An external case would be good for all the reasons you mention but you want to make sure you're not bottlenecking the array with the method of connectivity - I assume a multilane eSata connection is fast enough but it might be worth checking that. What sort of connection would the IcyBox use?

I've never used NAS so I can't help there.

I suspect Rast is the guy to talk to...

 

[NugentS]

The 3ware card has three multilane connections which can be broken out into 4 HDD each...

The Icybox has individual connections for each drive (although at this point there don't seem to be enough - I suspect the wrong photo on the web site)

The external boxed breakout multilane cables automatically so all I would need is three multilane cables out to the boxes themselves.

Sean

 

[NugentS]

Damn - where is the edit button?

I have assumed that if the new motherboard has on board graphics AND a PCIe (x16) slot then I can put the raid card into the PCIe slot.

OR

If its an sli board then one slot for the graphics and one for the RAID card...

Sean

 

[nrage]

Damn - where is the edit button?

I have assumed that if the new motherboard has on board graphics AND a PCIe (x16) slot then I can put the raid card into the PCIe slot.

OR

If its an sli board then one slot for the graphics and one for the RAID card...

Sean

See my post in your other thread, I reckon you can put any pci-e X card in a pci-e X or greater slot.

 

[Rastalovich]

/interupt discussion

RAID is a spawn of Satan. Never, ever, ever, use it on something ur not prepared to lose.

/end of interuption

 

[NugentS]

So - my super sensitive intuition tells me you don't like RAID then????

Sean