Got Problems: RAID5 via software

[Rob00GT]

OK, I've been running Server 2003 for a while as a file server with my data stored on two Western Digital 200GB IDE hard drives in a RAID 1 (mirrored) array. The drives are attached to a Silicon Image RAID 0/1 PCI card that I'm using only to add IDE channels (no hardware RAID in use). The OS is on a separate 10GB drive attached directly to the motherboard.

What I'd like to do is add two more 200GB drives (attached to the PC via the Silicon Image card) and arrange all four drives as a RAID 5 array using dynamic disks and Windows 2003 built in functionality. Frys put their Maxtor drives on sale for $69 (no rebates!) so I bought a pair.

I installed all the drives, promoted them to dynamic, created a new volume, and formatted them in NTFS. One thing I was not expecting was that after the new volume is formatted, Windows has to "synch" the drives and it takes a couple of hours. A single RAID 5 volume at about 550GB resulted. The big problem is that every time I reboot the computer I get a warning that one of the drives has failed, and it's always one of the Maxtor drives. I even reinstalled the OS, switched the drives around, and finally just plugged them right into the motherboard (in case it was the PCI card that was having issues). None of this helped. I tried building a RAID 5 array with just 3 drives (2 Western Digital, 1 Maxtor) and that Maxtor failed every time.

After the "drive failed" message I can always successfully add it back to the array in the computer management window, but the drives have to re-synch and it takes hours. When I use the Maxtor drives as "basic" disks they perform flawlessly. I've tried them in other PC's and tried reading/writing hundreds of gigabytes of data to them and they work great by themselves.

I'm at the end of my rope and can see only two possibilities:

1) Windows 2003 requires the same BRAND as well as size hard drives to create RAID arrays.

2) Maxtor drives just suck as dynamic volumes.

Any suggestions??

[Rob00GT]

I'm trying this again. After saving my nickels and dimes (and catching a sweet sale at Frys) I now have 4 Maxtor 200GB IDE hard drives. They are now running in a RAID 5 array controlled by the Server 2003 operating system. I'll let you know how it works out. The "synching" of the drives took a couple of hours and it'll take a few hours more to tranfer all my data to the array.

Current setup:

OS: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition SP1

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-7VT600 1394

CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3200+ (400MHz FSB)

Memory: Kingston KVR400X64C3A 512MB x2 (1GB total)

Video Card: ATI Radeon 9500 Pro

DVD-ROM: 16x DVD-ROM

Floppy Drive: 3.5" 1.44MB Floppy Drive

Power Supply: Enermax 450W

Case: Chieftec Full Tower

IDE Expansion Card: Silicon Image 680 PCI RAID

*C: drive is a SATA Maxtor 200GB plugged into the motherboard at SATA0.

*RAID array is 4 Maxtor 200GB drives plugged into IDE1 and IDE2 on the motherboard.

*DVD-ROM drive is plugged into the Silicon Image card as master in the primary IDE channel.

*The second IDE channel in the Silicon Image card is connected to two removable hard drive bays for backup purposes.

* Total installed storage is 1 terabyte. When my two Western Digital drives are placed in the removable drive bays the total goes up to 1.4TB.

*Every molex connector from the Enermax power supply is used. No room for further expansion.

My next purchase? An APC UPS/battery backup. Any glitch in power means the drives have to resynch and that take hours. No thanks.

[nmX.Memnoch]

Software RAID will always be slower than hardware RAID.

I would highly suggest saving a few more nickels and getting a hardware RAID5 controller. NewEgg carries the 3ware 7506-4 for ~$265 shipped. The controller is also 64-bit/66MHz capable so it'll give you some extra throughput for your drives if you have a motherboard that has 64-bit/66MHz PCI slots. I did just notice that one guy mentions a possible compatiblity issue with these cards and Maxtor drives though. This may have been fixed with a firmware update for the card by now though.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16816116019

I just recently put a 3ware 9500S-4 in my Dell Precision 650 at work with four Seagate 300GB drives in two RAID1 arrays...so far it's preforming without any issues and is pretty darn quick.

You do have a few other options if the 3ware/Maxtor issue hasn't been fixed:

Promise FastTrak SX4060 w/ 64MB Cache (supports up to 256MB Cache)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16816102036

~$200 Shipped

Adaptec 2400S w/ 128MB Cache

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?...N82E16816103135

~$315 Shipped

[-I-]

bests i erver did (in the old days), was build a raid 5 aya on 6 (you read it right) SIX disk of high branded 5400rmp 20gb seagate drives,

sou i went to the store, bought me a 3 raid-1 controlers and created 3

hardware raid-1 arays wich i than, added to a software raid 5 volume,

But again, that was in the old days, today im just ronne 2 maxtor 10k SATA drive on raid ! (and its just HOT..

What i DO wonder about, is why you want to use a hardware Raid controler, for these kind of lowgrade usage, you have now 4 perfectly working drive, its IHMO almost a crime to burdon your CPU with the load of constantly calculation your raid aray. im not even sure on howmuch apiance of software R-5 will cost ya, but i figure that it migh be as mucht as a couple of hundred Mhz ond full access mode.

not to mention the RAM it wil cost you.