[mythtv-users] Linux software raid question
Dan Ritter
dsr-myth at tao.merseine.nu
Thu Jun 5 10:34:53 UTC 2008
On Wed, Jun 04, 2008 at 07:27:16PM -0400, Carl L. Gilbert wrote:
> On Wed, 2008-06-04 at 15:04 -0400, Dan Ritter wrote:
> > On Wed, Jun 04, 2008 at 02:49:11PM -0400, Carl L. Gilbert wrote:
> > > Hardware RAID does not have to be expensive.
> >
> > Of course it does. Let's say that software RAID takes up 1% of
> > your CPU. 1% of a $200 CPU is $2. There are no reliable hardware
> > RAID systems that cost $2.
> >
> Your forgot to include a percentage of the cost of the drive's
> interface. Yes, most interfaces do this today, but still. Since you
> want to be technical, that cost is based in your motherboard.
I don't know any general-purpose motherboards that don't have disk
controllers these days, but let's suppose that you need to stock
some generic SATA-PCI controllers. $10 buys a nice reliable one
built on a Silicon Image chip.
> > If the card blows, you had better have a replacement on hand of
> > exactly the same type. Not so for software RAID. And if the card
> > blows after warranty or after the manufacturer has EOL'd it, you
> > might be looking at a very expensive replacement.
> >
> Hardware is hardware. If your drive controller blows it blows. Don't
> matter if its on the MB or in a card plugged into the MB. No difference
> here.
Except, of course, that a RAID controller is a much more
expensive card to keep stocked. Often more expensive than
complete motherboards. Sometimes more expensive than complete
motherboards, CPUs, and RAM.
> I am not claiming HW does something software does not. You are claiming
> the superiority of what I assume is FakeRAID.
No, I'm claiming that superiority, in many circumstances, of
Linux Software RAID, done through generic disk controllers and
controlled via mdadm.
> So what do you do when one of your drives dies on software RAID? Put in
> a new drive and go about your business? Nope. Since you are not
> RAIDing drives but partitions. So you have to rebuild your partition
> table on the new drive. I don't know how thats done, but for me,
> putting in a new drive and switching on the computer is very simple.
# sfdisk -d /dev/good_disk |sfdisk /dev/new_disk
> > > runs smartmon no problem. Plus there is a web interface to manage the
> > > drives from within the OS.
> >
> > That's not an advantage.
> >
> I am claiming only 1 advantage of HW raid, Its simpler.
I'm done trying to convince you.
-dsr-
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When freedom gets lots of exercise, it protects itself.
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