Pls help me build an external eSATA RAID array

dan_aka_jack

dan_aka_jack

dan_aka_jack

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Hi,

I edit uncompressed video (sometimes HD) so I need lots of fast storage. I've filled up my computer with hard disks and so it's time to consider building an external RAID array. I'd like to make use of modern technologies like eSATA and PCI-Express.

I'm imagining perfect setup would be something like:

1) An external disk enclosure with enough space for about 12 drives. Must run quietly. Hot-swapping would be nice but not essential.

2) An eSATA RAID controller

I only want to buy about 2 x 300GB drives right now to use as a backup solution but then, as time goes on, I'd like to slowly fill the drive enclosure with more and more drives.

I'd love some recommendataions for good value products like:

1) The external drive enclosure

2) SATA port-multiplier boards (i.e. a bit of electronics that goes in the external drive enclosure and allows me to use a single eSATA cable to control up to 5 drives without and performance hit)

3) An eSATA PCI / PCI-Express controller card.

I've found a good set of reviews over on AMUG:

http://www.amug.org/amug-web/html/amug/reviews/reviews.html

Many thanks for your help,
Jack
 
I think my current favorite setup is:

* 2 x Seagate 7200.10 320GB SATA-II drives (£72 each, best value per GB) (I'll buy more in the future)
* Addonics 6-drive storage tower ST5X1PM with port multiplier ($199 - haven't found it in the UK yet)
* Addonics PCI-Express eSATA II controller

Does that sound sensible? Should I setup my two drives as RAID5? Will I then be able to add more drives in the future to expand the size of the RAID array?

Thanks,
Jack
 
dan_aka_jack said:
... Should I setup my two drives as RAID5? Will I then be able to add more drives in the future to expand the size of the RAID array?
Click to expand...

Need 3+ for Raid 5.

If you're looking for lots of fast storage with plenty of upgrade options, perhaps you should also look at using SCSI?
 
Hi,

Thanks loads for letting me know about needing 3+ for RAID5. Do they have to be identical disks? For example, could I use 2 x 320GB drives and 1x 750GB?

Regarding SCSI: is it not the case that SATA offers performance that nearly matches that of SCSI but for much better prices?

Warmest regards,
Jack
 
re: different disks.. It's largely down to the controller as to whether it's supported or not. If it is you may be in a position where you have the remainder of the 750gb disk unused.

I'd suggest you try to keep to the same model disks for each array where possible.

Regarding SCSI: is it not the case that SATA offers performance that nearly matches that of SCSI but for much better prices?

Yup, it does, but if i was looking to build up a huge array for editing / encoding etc, i'd be looking for a solid reliable system, which would be SCSI based.

have you considered a change of PC Case, with one that will allow you to fit loads of Sata disks inside? It might be more the more viable and cheapest of all the options.
 
Actually, no - I hadn't considered getting a bigger case! Good idea. But I worry that it would only be a stop-gap measure. I can see myself needing a full 12-disk array in about 12-18 month's time. I already have 4 disks in my existing system so I'd nee a case that could handle 16 3.5" hard disks (and keep them cool). Does such a case exist?

I like the idea of using external storage because it seems to give tonnes of headroom for future expansion. Also, I already have a very nice Antec case and I'd be upset to have to sell it!

Thanks,
Jack
 
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I dont't know of any cases that could hold 16 drives. The CoolerMaster Stacker RC-810 would be able to hold up to 12. Another option you might want to look into is getting a rackmount server with a storage array chassis. That way you could potentially have hundreds of drives depending on the size cabinet you got. The only downside to this, is it might work out quite expensive.
 
fleebay can net you some nice HP Storageworks chassis, 14 disks per 3u bay, it's not that expensive if you sniff around.

one point with this sort of kit though...it is NOISY.
 
Yeah, that is another downside. My mate has just recently got hold of a dual Xeon 2U rackmount server, and my god is it loud! If you did go down this route, one option would be to hide it out of the way, in the attic or a cupboard for example, and simply access it over the network.
 
Hi guys,

Thanks loads for all your replies.

Unfortauntely, I think I can't move my shinney new external RAID array any further than 2 meters away from my computer (which is the max distance for eSATA). I can't send data over the network because even Gbit ethernet would be fast enough (with all 12 disks I'll be needing to expecting to get about 500MB/second).

Noise is a big issue and something that I'll need to consider more deeply.

I like the idea of getting something 2nd hand from eBay - it's always fun to get good deals off eBay.

What do people think of my plan to use an ? It looks like a pretty good deal to me at $199 (assuming I can get it somewhere in the UK!).

Thanks,
Jack
 
Im not sure if it would work, but maybe you could look into the option of getting multiple gigabit NIC's and bridging them to cerate an even faster connection. That would widen your options. If you deffinately can't have the drives far away, then I would look at large pc cases, maybe even industrial server ones.
 
Hi,

Yes... when I start sharing an office with other people then I will need to build some sort of NAS / SAN which might utilise multiple Gbit-ethernet connections... but I think that's probably over-complicating things right now (I run my little video editing business from my spare room right now! plans to expand soon...)

So, I've looked on that wonderful bidding site and I've found some very cheap, old, rack-mountable SCSI storage arrays (e.g. a "COMPAQ PROLIANT U2 STORAGE ARRAY"). These things come with power supplies etc.

Could I hack out the SCSI electronics from these storage arrays and install eSATA port-multipliers? In other words, I'd be using the storage array just as a PSU and a box. All the RAID electronics would be done on the PCI-Express controller card.

Thanks,
Jack
 
Possibly. Im not sure about the "COMPAQ PROLIANT U2 STORAGE ARRAY", but the rackmount server my mate has allows you to put SATA controllers and disks into the thing.
 
Not sure of the make, its a fairly basic 3U Enclosure with space for 6harddrives AFAIK. At the moment its got 2x10k rpm SCSI320 drives and 2 Xeon cpu's.
 
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