You also need to ask yourself how much load is going to be on this server. I run Exchange sites with as many as 300 people all on RAID 5 without any disk bottlenecks. SQLServer we have apps that 2800 people hit on RAID 5 again with no disk bottlenecks. Now we have other DB's that do need a RAID 10 set.
We have had very good luck using the peripheral drive bay for a RAID 1 set just for the OS and log files for different apps, but that does not sound like an option for you since you seem to already have your hardware purchased. Remember RAID 5 is your least expensive RAID option for redundancy and with current controllers having a lot of cache most applications are not going to need any other RAID config. Assuming you are using Dell's PERC it should have 128MB cache. As for the hotswap spare again a waste of money in my book. Over 200 servers and I have never seen two drives fail that close together. Although the LVD drives do have a tendency to knock themselves off line on a reboot. If you have the luxury of all the same drive sizes at one location keep one drive on hand. Above all make sure you have a 4 hour, 24x7 contract with Dell. It is relatively cheap. -----Original Message----- From: Szlucha, Chris [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 7:53 AM To: NT 2000 Discussions Subject: RE: Doubts about RAID And your configuration for the SQL servers needs to be taken into consideration. They need to be set up differently. The logs need to be on a different drive than the data. There are quite a few performance and data safety issues that should be considered before going with a certain configuration. If you're questioning the integrity of your "expert", maybe you need to get someone else. Screwing up your initial configuration will only cause you far more headaches in the future. Get it right now and save yourself all that aggravation. -Chris Sz SEC / PlanetGov -----Original Message----- From: Andrew S. Baker [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2001 2:08 PM To: NT 2000 Discussions Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: Doubts about RAID That's not a configuration that I would use. I prefer RAID1 for the OS and Apps, and then something else for the data (depending on how the server will be used) See the following: http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/?File=RAID.TXT http://www.ultratech-llc.com/KB/?File=ServerSpecs.TXT "Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment." -- Rita Mae Brown. >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Joel Cruz >Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 12:37 PM >To: NT 2000 Discussions >Subject: Doubts about RAID > > >Hi folks! > >I need your help again. I am installing a WAN with about 300 PC >clients, distributed over 20 sites. The main server is a Dell >PowerEdge2500 ( a >Pentium III 933 MHz, 256 KB cache, 512 MB Ram, five 9.1 GB >Ultra3 Hot Swap >10 krpm, a RAID SCSI controller, etc). OS is Windows 2000 >Server, and other >than Active Directory, DHCP and DNS, the server will run >only SendMail, and >some clients will have virtual disks to backup their files. >There are other >two servers, for SQL Server production and for SQL Server >development. > >I never installed RAID, hardly know the theory, then I >hired a Windows 2000 >expert to install the servers. He decided to configure four >9 GB HD with >RAID 5, and leave one as hotspare. The server will have 3 volumes: > >. volume C with OS ( RAID 5 / 4GB / primary partition) > volume D with backup folders and SendMail ( RAID 5 / 4GB / primary >partition ) > volume E: CDROM > >What I would like to know : is this the better >configuration? is he a true >expert? > >TIA > >Joel >from the middle of the Rain Forest > ------ You are subscribed as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------ You are subscribed as [EMAIL PROTECTED] Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are NOT the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering the e-mail to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this e-mail in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited. ------ You are subscribed as [email protected] Archives: http://www.swynk.com/sitesearch/search.asp To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
