IMHO, data protection is a MUST, and thus RAID is a MUST for QMAIL (and
other client services like web servers and the like). The question isn't
about RAID/NO-RAID, it is about WHICH RAID and HOW:
To my mind, RAID decisions come in TWO flavors:
- RAID TECHNOLOGY (e.g.: RAID-1 vs RAID-5 vs. RAID-10 -- the 3 most
common types of RAID today), and
- RAID IMPLEMENTATION (e.g.: Motherboard RAID [aka: Fake-RAID],
Hardware RAID, and Software [Linux md] RAID)
MY OPINIONS are:
_From a RAID IMPLEMENTATION perspective, I have found the following
to be true:_
- Motherboard-based (firmware-based) RAID (any flavor) = *UNSTABLE
*in most Linux environments -- _*AVOID*_
- *Hardware RAID = BEST performance, BEST reliability, more expensive*
- Software (Linux-based) RAID = GOOD performance, GOOD
reliability, LOWEST EXPENSE (a common choice --
I know others favor the Linux RAID, and I'll admit that I'm still a
hardware RAID snob! -- but these are MY opinions!
_When it comes to RAID TECHNOLOGY, for me the choice is rather clear:_
- RAID 10 = BEST STABILITY, BEST PERFORMANCE, HIGH EXPENSE - IMHO
not usually worth the cost/complexity unless you need a HUGE or FAST
volume
- *RAID 1 = BEST STABILITY, GOOD PERFORMANCE, MODERATE EXPENSE -
IMHO overall best HW RAID bang-for-the-buck (and my usual choice)*
- RAID 5 = GOOD STABILITY, IFFY PERFORMANCE, LOWEST EXPENSE -
undegraded performance same as RAID 1, DEGRADED performance is POOR
So you'll see that I agree with David and Eric on some of these
points... and I know we differ on others... that's what opinions are all
about!
Dan McAllister
IT4SOHO
On 5/16/2012 7:58 AM, David Milholen wrote:
As a standard and when possible I like to do raid1 just for failover
or easy recovery.
I was my first time I wanted to try the onboard HW raid controller and
all the trouble I have ran
into I gave up on it and found a true HW raid controller. I am going
to try it this morning.
If it fails I will do the traditional SW raid.
On 5/16/2012 12:02 AM, Eric Shubert wrote:
FWIW, stay away from raid-5 if at all possible. Raid-1 is best,
raid-10 ok.
--
David Milholen
Project Engineer
P:501-318-1300
--
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