Hardware RAID for internal disks

[Yogeeraj_1]

Hi experts!

I am just investigating about possible solutions to implement hardware RAID for internal disks. Does any such solution exist?

thank you in advance for your replies.

best regards
Yogeeraj

[KapilRaj]

It is like instaling OS on lun from an array. Look for any SCSI RAID controllers. I have seen it in Intel boxes.

Kaps

[Naveej.K.A]

Hi Yogeeraj,

I too have seen the implementation of RAID using internal disks and an internal RAID card in Intel Servers. You can find some of them in Compaq's and HP's internal servers.

Another technology used in intel servers is the zero channel raid card. ZCR is an implementation of RAID designed to reduce the cost and size of the RAID card. The card takes advantage of the system's onboard SCSI chip. Instead of using SCSI connectors on the RAID card, the system's onboard connectors are used. This unique approach frees up space on the RAID card, allowing for more compact designs. The lack of a SCSI chip on the card also reduces the cost of the RAID card. ZCR implementations provide the flexibility of an add-on card at a more affordable price than one- and two-channel RAID cards

with best wishes
Naveej

[kcpant]

HI yogeeraj,

the first thing you have to decide for internal RAID implimentation is : what type of HDDs you have? if you are going to have a mirror ( RAID 1) of ATA HDDs, you go for a ATA RAID card. it's an inexpensive way to create an internal RAID.
if you have SCSI HDDs, you have to decide wethr you want only an internal HDD based RAID or you have any future planning for any external cage to have RAID implemented? if it is the first case( you need only internal HDD based solution), go for a zero channel raid card. most of the servers support a zero channel RAID card, but make sure your server & the SCSI controller supports the same. ( usually there is a specific PCI slot assigned for this card to be inserted to). otherwise, you go for a single or dual channel RAID controller. this card imlementation will work on almost all servers.


regards,

[Yogeeraj_1]

hi,
thank you all for your replies.

more inputs will be most welcomed.

best regards
Yogeeraj

[JohnWRuffo]

Yogeeraj:

Do you have a particular server in mind that you are going to implement on?

Most of the HP / Compaq internal SCSI disk servers have the capability to connect to a RAID Controller.
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/proliantstorage/arraycontrollers/index.html

You have many choices to select from to give you even further options to build your RAID: Direct Attached SCSI or Fiber Channel, etc...

[Ted Buis]

Just lost my reply I think. There is the Smart Array card, A9890A, for Integrity Servers that can do hardware mirroring for servers up to and including the rx7620. I know Windows supports this, but I'm not sure about HP-UX support.

For pa-risc, there is the A7143A smart array controller. While it has two internal ports my 4/04 config guide says that future support is planned. This may or may not happen, and if it does would likely only be on a limited numbe of systems.

MirrorDisk/UX will work nicely.