raid RAID Controller

mmcbj5 · December 5, 2016

I am looking to expand my File/Media server.

I already have 16 4TB drives but i am running out of space.

I was looking to move up to a 24 bay server rack.

I was told it is possible to move my 16 drive to the new server that has a new RAID card.

Can anyone give me any advice as i really dont want to loose all my files and folders

Also could you recommend any relayable RAID controllers for 24 disk with a UPS if possible

leadeater · December 5, 2016

5 hours ago, mmcbj5 said:

I am looking to expand my File/Media server.

I already have 16 4TB drives but i am running out of space.

I was looking to move up to a 24 bay server rack.

I was told it is possible to move my 16 drive to the new server that has a new RAID card.

Can anyone give me any advice as i really dont want to loose all my files and folders

Also could you recommend any relayable RAID controllers for 24 disk with a UPS if possible

It would be safer to get a SAS expander that goes in an expansion slot or get a 24 bay case that has an expansion backplane, then you can use your existing RAID card unmodified and simply move everything to this new case and add extra drives as needed.

While you can import arrays across RAID cards, even different models and sometimes brands it doesn't always work. It mostly doesn't work when you have enabled more advanced features that are specific to the card/brand, an example of that would be LSI CacheCade for SSD caching an array.

mmcbj5 · December 6, 2016

Thanks for the replay

Do you have any suggestions on cases as i am not a big hardware person

scottyseng · December 6, 2016

26 minutes ago, mmcbj5 said:

Thanks for the replay

Do you have any suggestions on cases as i am not a big hardware person

Any Supermicro Chassis with hotswap drives has a built in backplane. One like this is a current model: https://www.supermicro.com/products/chassis/4U/846/SC846BE1C-R1K03JBOD

Do note that SuperMicro Chassis have PSUs included with them.

If you're shopping used, be very weary of the backplane. There's several versions of the SuperMicro 846 series chassis, and the backplane ranges from SAS1, SAS2, and to the modern day SAS3 (Though for drives, SAS2 is plenty). SAS3 also has a different connector from SAS1 / SAS2. For example, I bought this chassis used from ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/172315518085?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

But it's a SAS1 backplane. The PSUs in this one were pretty loud as well. For me to retrofit it to something a bit more modern, I had to buy a used SAS2 backplane ($300), and new PSUs (Platinum grade, $130 each used).

What RAID card do you have?

Also, as for a UPS, I would recommend Eaton's 5S UPS units or the 5P / 5PX (a bit more costly). If you want us to give you a proper size, you need to list out everything you have in your system currently and plan to have in the future.

mmcbj5 · December 6, 2016

Hi

RAID: Adaptec 51245 RAID Card 16-Port

HDD:16 WD Reds

PSU: Corsair 800W

The UPS i was asking about was for the RAID card not the normal rack UPS as i already have one.

I was thinking if i could i would just get the case and a new RAID card and transfer the HDD's to the new RAID card and add HDD as needed. Is this possible as i was looking at the getting the HighPoint RocketRAID 2760A

As i have only a €500 to €1000 budget and i want a good RAID card and case

scottyseng · December 7, 2016

12 hours ago, mmcbj5 said:

-snip-

The RAID card uses Adaptec Battery Module 800 according to the user manual.

What case were you looking at getting? There's other good options like Norcu 4U if you're on a budget / use an expander to get more ports. The other thing you can do is loop a SAS cable back inside the case because I see that adaptec RAID card you have has one external SAS port.

You can't take a RAID array from a different brand RAID card and have it transfer. Each brand has their own special RAID. You would have to delete your current RAID array and rebuild it using the new RAID card. I would recommend sticking with your current RAID card to be honest.

Also depending on the what RAID level you have currently, you can't expand it. I think only RAID 5 and 6 are expandable.