3ware, PATA, 2TB, and Me...

[Stereodude]

So, I know that my 8 port PATA 3ware card can't have an array over 2TB on it. But I need more specifics. I'm hoping some of you know more about the limitations of the 3ware cards.

So, what happens if I plug in 6 500GB drives? Correcting for the whole 1000 / 1024 debacle, that would be 2328GB in RAID-5. Obviously I can't make a single 2328GB RAID-5 array... But, can I create a 2048GB "array" spanning all 6 drives, and another 280GB "array" using all 2328GB of the 6 drives? Or, am I limited to a single 2048GB "array"? Or, can I not even put 6 500's in a RAID-5 array and I would only be able to put 5 500s (giving me 1862GB)?

Thanks!

 

[ddrueding]

I assume you have a 7xxx series card?

IIRC, it is an array limit; so partitioning isn't going to help you. As to whether it would choke completely or not, I don't know.

 

[Stereodude]

Answering my own question it appears that the answer is B) Arrays are automatically truncated to 2TB... That makes 6 500's a waste about 280GB and 5 500 leave me 185GB short. 4 750s would be a much better fit (wasting less space), but I don't think we'll see them at a $150 price point any time soon.

Can anyone confirm the limit is 2TB (2^40) not 2x10^12?

 

[Stereodude]

I assume you have a 7xxx series card?

Yeah, I should have mentioned that. It's a 7506-8.

 

[ddrueding]

Did some looking:

The 7000/8000 series controllers do not support arrays larger than (>) 2TB.
Arrays larger than 2TB will be truncated to 2TB. Booting to 2TB arrays is possible under Windows. For Linux and Free BSD related issues please see the related KB articles 11699, 11731.

 

[Stereodude]

Did some looking:

Yeah, I came across that after I posted my original question. Now I just need to confirm what their idea of 2TB is...

 

[Stereodude]

Well, I can't say for certain, but the 3ware card shows my 5x500GB array in RAID-5 as 2TB in the BIOS.

Now I just have to figure out how why it put my RAID-1 boot drive as the 2nd array and how to fix it.

 

[Bozo]

Well, I can't say for certain, but the 3ware card shows my 5x500GB array in RAID-5 as 2TB in the BIOS.

Now I just have to figure out how why it put my RAID-1 boot drive as the 2nd array and how to fix it.

The 3Ware cards I've used seem to be picky about what hard drive is installed to what port. Want array 1 to be the boot drive, attach the hard drive to the 0 & 1 ports. Then create that array.

Bozo :joker:

 

[Stereodude]

The 3Ware cards I've used seem to be picky about what hard drive is installed to what port. Want array 1 to be the boot drive, attach the hard drive to the 0 & 1 ports. Then create that array.

Bozo :joker:

Yeah, I had to swap them back to port 0 & 1 to get Win XP booting again. I wanted to run them on 6 & 7 for better cooling.

Formatting 2TB takes a long time. I'm 50% done and it's been about 7 hours.

 

[ddrueding]

Yup. Quick format is your friend.

 

[Stereodude]

Yup. Quick format is your friend.

Normally I do that on non-RAID drives, but I'd rather spend the time doing a full format to make sure everything is working rather than get a surprise later when I have a lot of important data on it.