[1820] in linux-scsi channel archive
Re: Set up RAID over linux
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Ruediger Koch)
Tue May 6 06:52:52 1997
Date: Tue, 06 May 1997 18:09:37 +0700
From: Ruediger Koch <rkoch@samart.co.th>
To: apl@ctv.es
CC: linux-raid@vger.rutgers.edu, linux-scsi@vger.rutgers.edu
Arturo Pina wrote:
>=20
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>=20
> Hello to everybody,
> I would like to set up a Linux system for a backup server. I would
> like to set it up with hardware RAID 5. It should be as stable as
> possible. It won't do any other thing; just backup other machines
> every night over an Ethernet 10 Mbps. I would like help with the
> following questions: 1) Which hardware do you suggest me to buy (DPT,
> Adaptec). Please state the make and model if possible. 2) Which
> distribution/kernel is best for this task? 3) I think that the best i=
s
> RAID 5. As I need to back up about 20 Gb, I would need 5 4.3 disks. I
> understand that to implement RAID 5 I would need a sixth one. Am I
> right or would I need more? 4) I need a solution that works as 'out o=
f
> the box' as possible. 5) Any other information you think appropriate.
> Please be as specific as possible. I'm going to buy it for my company
> and I wouldn't like to miss on this one :-( Finally, I'm sorry about
> my English as I can't control my style very well it's meant to be
> kind. Thank you very much for your help.
>=20
I guess RAID0 (stripping) should be OK since it is a backup only. It's
not very likely that the original server(s) and the backupserver both
fail within one day. It is more important to make sure that you don't
overwrite a one day old sane backup with a new, corrupted one. In case
you want to use internal disks I would recommend using 2x9GB or 3x9GB.
Linux Kernel RAID5 is not yet released, not even in alpha stage. RAID1
is available, but I think it's beta.=20
You can use an external array, of course. You just need to take care
that this doesn't use any propritary shit. Instead, the RAID controller
should present a big external HD to the OS.
I doubt that this is a very good solution, however. I am not a backup
expert at all, but I'd propose to take a look at tape arrays. I guess
they will be supported in case they just present the Linux kernel a
standard device, like a huge single SCSI tape drive.
Sorry, can't recommend any SCSI adapter. I and some coleagues are using
AHA2940 under Linux since a year and I never needed to notice it's
presence, which should be good.
Regards
R=FCdiger
--=20
Samart Corporation public Co., LTD.
555 Rasa Tower, 20th Floor, Phaholyotin Rd. e-mail: rkoch@samart.co.t=
h
Bangkok 10900, Thailand http://www.samart.co.t=
h
/* ... and we're gonna keep on having meetings 'till we find out why
nothing's getting done here. */
