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Forum Discussion
XRAID2 vs RAID6, etc.
I've got an RN104 on the way and I'd like to better understand my configuration options.
To start with, I have to admit that I'm planning on using 3x2TB Caviar Greens to start with (WD20EARX); I know that they're not on the HCL. But they're what I have right now and I've just finished plowing 3 grand into a new server setup. The cash just isn't there to buy all new drives right now. I'll probably go with the 4TB Reds (WD40EFRX) and swap them in one at a time over the next couple months or so, as budget allows.
That said, I'm wondering about XRAID2 and its expansion capabilities. It's my understanding that the volume size will increase automatically after a sync and a reboot. Is this correct?
I like XRAID2's auto-expansion feature, but I also like RAID6's double-parity feature. Am I going to have to choose between the two? But I only have the three drives, which of course leaves RAID6 out.
So let's say go ahead and I order up my first Red and get started with 3Gs and 1R. I go with XRAID2. Do I then forfeit the double parity option? Can we mix-n-match the drive sizes like that? Also, I really like BTRFS' CoW and BitRot protection features. I'd hate to miss out on those.
What's my best plan here? Which way to go?
Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska
To start with, I have to admit that I'm planning on using 3x2TB Caviar Greens to start with (WD20EARX); I know that they're not on the HCL. But they're what I have right now and I've just finished plowing 3 grand into a new server setup. The cash just isn't there to buy all new drives right now. I'll probably go with the 4TB Reds (WD40EFRX) and swap them in one at a time over the next couple months or so, as budget allows.
That said, I'm wondering about XRAID2 and its expansion capabilities. It's my understanding that the volume size will increase automatically after a sync and a reboot. Is this correct?
I like XRAID2's auto-expansion feature, but I also like RAID6's double-parity feature. Am I going to have to choose between the two? But I only have the three drives, which of course leaves RAID6 out.
So let's say go ahead and I order up my first Red and get started with 3Gs and 1R. I go with XRAID2. Do I then forfeit the double parity option? Can we mix-n-match the drive sizes like that? Also, I really like BTRFS' CoW and BitRot protection features. I'd hate to miss out on those.
What's my best plan here? Which way to go?
Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska
15 Replies
Replies have been turned off for this discussion
Automated would be nice, but I do it by hand.InteXX wrote: StephenB wrote: I use SFV files for that in my media folders - there's an SFV file in every folder
Ack! That sounds like a maintenance nightmare. How do you manage to keep up? Do you have some process that detects a disk write and then recomputes/creates the values?
I started this a long time ago when my media was on CDs and DVDs. At this point there are about 4500 SFVs. But I add media folders fairly slowly, so its not as tedious as it sounds.StephenB wrote: But I add media folders fairly slowly, so its not as tedious as it sounds.
I see. So it's not that bad then.
And the rest of your time is used answering forum posts.
Thanks,
Jeff Bowman
Fairbanks, Alaska
Hard to deny :)InteXX wrote: And the rest of your time is used answering forum posts. mdgm wrote:
By default an X-RAID volume with 3 or more equal sized (or where only the largest capacity disk has a different capacity) disks will be using RAID-5.
If you switch to Flex-RAID (disable X-RAID) you can choose to have the next disk added convert the volume to RAID-6, then after that re-enable X-RAID again.
So in the 4.x software you can tell XRAID that you wanted two parity drives, why in OS6 do you have to do a multistep process in enabling it? If I do these steps in OS6 will this come back and bite me later on?- There are a couple of extra steps for raid-6 setup to be sure. On the other hand, switching to flexraid w/o losing data is a huge benefit.
Of course once you have RAID-6, it can't be changed without destroying the volume. Not sure if that's a "bite" or not.
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