topic Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800 in Disk Enclosures

Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Alexey Tyutvin — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 05:57:13 GMT

Good day!

I am planning to buy P800 RAID controller to attach MSA60 storage(video recording application).

I need 6Tb of efficient capacity from storage in RAID 5 configuration.

SA P800 specification contains this statement: "Maximum Logical Drive size = 2.0 TB"

My questions:

1) How many hard drive (500Gb SATA) I need for 6Tb capacity in RAID ? Why?

2) What maximum array size P800 support?

Thank you.

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

John Kufrovich — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 20:51:23 GMT

1).To answer the first question what RAID level.

2). The MAX LUN size is 2TB.

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Joseph Rehling — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 15:27:10 GMT

I think John gave a bad answer here. It might have been correct when he gave it, but the P800 supports LUNs above 2TB though the quick specs don't say what the max is... I would think you could get at least 6TB on it, but support would need to verify...

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

scott haddow_1 — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:34:30 GMT

in theory you can go up to 8 zettabytes on a single logical drive on a P800 - which sounds as remote as 2TB must have way back when.
In practical terms we can say that there is no limit to LUN size on the P800
where do you see that limit as published?
should not appear anywhere in the product docs
the QS has it right:
Logical Drives Supported
Up to 32 logical drives
NOTE: Supports greater than 2 TB logical drives.

Scott

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Ian Chase — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 03:58:39 GMT

I have been unable to find any documentation to say what the new maximum logical size is with the P800 array.
If anyone can verify the size for me that would be very useful.
I wish to populate a MSA 60 with 750GB drives in a RAID6 config and really need to know the logical size limit before ordering.

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Ian Chase — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 07:26:58 GMT

A very helpful person at HP has supplied me with the following:
"Smart Array P400, P400i, And P800 Controllers - Maximum Logical Drive Size Capability Has Been Increased From 2.2 Terabytes (TB) To 8 Zettabytes (ZB."

Please see:
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/storage/us/revision/10015.html

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Jean-Michel Beuken — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 15:57:15 GMT

I buy a P800 and a MSA60 with 12 x 750GB : I have configured one big logical drive with RAID6(ADG)
the server is a DL380 and I have installed
a Centos5 with the last cciss driver : HP CISS Driver (v 3.6.18-5S) [without it, the kernel 2.6.18-8.1.15.el5 doesn't read the logical drive]

the command fdisk see the full capacity of drive but I can't create a partition more than 2TB :

==========================================

fdisk /dev/cciss/c0d1

Disk /dev/cciss/c0d1: 6751.1 GB, 6751104393216 bytes
255 heads, 32 sectors/track, 1615900 cylinders, total 13185750768 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 1
First cylinder (1-1615900, default 1):
Using default value 1
Last cylinder or +size or +sizeM or +sizeK (1-526344, default 526344):
Using default value 526344

Command (m for help): p

Disk /dev/cciss/c0d1: 6751.1 GB, 6751104393216 bytes
255 heads, 32 sectors/track, 1615900 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8160 * 512 = 4177920 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/cciss/c0d1p1 1 526344 2147483504 83 Linux

Command (m for help): n
Command action
e extended
p primary partition (1-4)
p
Partition number (1-4): 2
No free sectors available
==========================================

As you see, there are 1615900 cylinders, but I can only put max 526344.
And I can't create an other partition !

any explanations/suggestions to able create partition > 2TB ?

I have tried also with parted : there is the same problem...

regards

jmb

Re: Maximum array size for Storage Array P800

Uwe Zessin — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:27:02 GMT

MBR-style partitions cannot deal with disks larger than 2 TeraBytes. A so-called GUID Partition Table (GPT) is needed:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GUID_Partition_Table