Storage Spaces and Raid6 - or BTRFS for Windows?

[ragnargd]

Hi,

i'm at the moment experimenting with my shiny new Windows Server 2016 Essentials.

For some reasons, i do not have the option to run a hardware raid, so i have to use the Microsoft Software Raid (tm).

I use six drives a 1TB (Intel p660 NVMe PCIe).

Ok, using Software Raid 5 obviously is not a problem, let's ignore this, that's not what i have in mind.

I'm talking about Raid 6.

Well, there is no such thing...

Or is it?

One option is "Storage Spaces", which is supposed to allow parity for TWO failed drives.

Unfortunately, Microsoft seems to always need another, third drive, for so-called "global parity".

This is a waste of one expensive drive... but for one singular server, "global" parity is not needed anyway.

Could that be configured to not use that "global parity drive"? And if: How?

Does anyone have some experience with storage spaces? Can it be used on Essentials in the first place?

Another option is BTRFS for Windows: https://github.com/maharmstone/btrfs

Anyone into such experimental things?

(P.S.: Yes, i do backups, twice: MS Backup local onto a USB-Drive, and important files into some encrypted cloud-storage. Just in case you're asking...)

Cheers,

Ragnar G.D.

P.S.: The Server (using 28W in idle):

- ASRock Rack X470D4U2-T2 https://www.asrockrack.com/general/productdetail.asp?Model=X470D4U2-2T#Specifications

- Ryzen 3 1200

- 16GB Ram non-ECC

- 2x SanDisk Ultra II 240GB, running as Raid 1 (SATA-Onboard FakeRaid) for the OS

- 2x Asus HYPER M.2 X16 CARD V2 https://www.asus.com/Motherboard-Accessories/HYPER-M-2-X16-CARD-V2/

- 6x Intel 660p NVMe 1TB, two each in the Asus cards, two on the MoBo

- linked to a MikroTik 10G Switch (passive cooling, 8-port SFP+ with some Transceivers for RJ45, 1 port 1Gbit RJ45). Yes, i have machines that eat/feed 10Gbit of bandwith with their NVMe drives... ;-)

 

 

Edited February 12, 2020 by ragnargd