[NTLUG:Discuss] Dell Server with PERC RAID

[Richard Geoffrion]

Paul Drew wrote:
> I would actually like to get some feedback and advice from people who
> have done this as well. I am actually installing linux on a Dell
> PowerEdge 4200 as I am writing this, and I am wondering about how to
> go about the raid stuff in linux. Suggestions greatly appreciated.
> Thanks
>

I installed slackware 8.1 and then re-installed slackware 9.0 on a Dell
Poweredge 2400 that had a RAID controller that gets identified/uses the
MEGARAID driver.

Other than the fact that slackware doesn't come with a kernel that sees both
the adaptec 7800 scsi CD  AND the RAID controller (I used a temporary IDE
controller for the CDROM) the installation went pretty smooth. There is no
raid configuration in linux as this is a HARDWARD raid solution. There are
no /etc/raidtab files to edit.

I have noticed that my dual ultra133 IDE software RAID-1 setups seem to be
faster than the MEGARAID RAID-5 disk channel.  I am not too much of a fan of
straight RAID-5 as it has historically been slower.  Now, if you were to
DUPLEX your RAID-5 setup..now THAT would be grand! (what's that called??
raid10?)

-- 
richard