[mythtv-users] Better think twice before choosing an FS especially for LVM

David myth at dgreaves.com
Thu Sep 15 22:16:23 UTC 2005


Brandon Beattie wrote:

>On Thu, Sep 15, 2005 at 03:52:24PM -0500, Dan Littlejohn wrote:
>  
>
>>Another vote for RAID5 with XFS.  I stayed away from LVM so I could
>>run XFS without worrying.  Used an old 600Mhz box and a hardware RAID
>>controller, and mounted it with nfs.  Can replace the controller if it
>>fails, replace a drive that fails, and expand the array on line.
>>Maybe I am deluding myself because I do not understand all the details
>>of LVM and the potential for XFS to corrupt, but I have been more than
>>happy with this setup and it is in heavy usage.
>>
>>When they get on-line expansion working for adding devices (as I
>>learned they are working on above) for software RAID, I think that
>>would be my preference (most recoverable and cheapest).
>>    
>>
>
>... Just a few questions, for fun, and to get you to think. :)  Food for
>thought and nothing is meant to criticize, just to make a few points.
>
In the same informative vein, in response:
I have hundreds of shows recorded on my raid5 and *all* my ripped CDs.
I've had 2 disks and a (old cheap) motherboard fail over the last 2 years.
I've lost no data and suffered no major inconvenience (yep, lost a day
with the MB and worried when the disk failed)

The extra £150 for an extra disk to do RAID bought me *days* of time I'd
have to have spent re-ripping CDs, many many TV series that I was able
to watch without missing episodes and many hours of editing, ripping and
transcoding other DVDs, videos etc.

Essentially, I consider the risk of disk failure very high compared to
the risk of theft, fire, flood, lightning strike etc and RAID5 protects
me against something that is *likely* to happen many times (versus
something that most people don't encounter in their home life).

I agree about HW raid card availability and suggest linux sw raid (md)
as being more readily available, plenty good enough performance, more
flexible etc.

If I do have a high risk event then I accept that I have to spend days
re-ripping all my CDs (now in the attic) and I'll lose all my TV shows -
not a major deal so long as my attic isn't burnt down (in which case I
don't really think I'll be bothered by losing a few TV shows!!!)

My photos and other irreplaceables etc are all backed up onto different
drives which are spun down most of the time. I also have DVD backups too.

In short, I respect your personal risk assesment and decision; I know
what the risks are and RAID5 is worth the cost of a disk to _me_ :)

David



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