DL380 Spec

[Manoj Schroff]

Hello,

I would like to run 3x74.2gb(15k) raid 5 on three channels(total 9 disks). Is the attached a good configuration ?

Thx

[Ken Henault]

Sure, it will work, but where's the question? Is this going to be the only storage in the system? What is the application?

I'm assuming you will use a Smart Array 6404 controller and an MAS30 dual bus storage shelf.
The SA6404 has 4 SCSI busses. The internal SCSI drive bays can be configured as a single SCSI bus, or split 4 on one bus, and 2 on the other.

[Manoj Schroff]

Thanks Ken,
it would be a 6402 and a 6i internal, so you would have three disks on the dl380 and 6 disks on the 6402 housed in an external case.
I did attach a spec with my previous answer, I guess it did not attach for some reason.

[Manoj Schroff]

Whooops,

I forgot to mention that with my previous reply I have attached the spec, also the application is an Oracle database 10G. and yes this is the only storage.

[Ken Henault]

You can't have a single array that runs across multiple enclosures. Replace the 6402 with a 6404, drop the 641 and replace the single bus MSA30 with a dual bus MSA 30. Than's the only way you'll be able to do a 9 drive RAID 5 array across 3 SCSI busses with this type of configuration.

[Manoj Schroff]

Ken,

I am very sorry. The first email attachment was the correct one, the second one was not, very sorry again. I attach the correct one here and paste the config below on DL380 G4. Yes it looks like the config that you recommended, however it has a 6402 (dual bus) instead of the 6404, see below and thank you for your help


Quantity Part Number Description
1 370596-421 RACK PROLIANT DL380 G4 R04 XEON DP 3200-1.0MB/800 SCSI (HP BACKPLANE 1GB)
1 374492-B21 PROLIANT ML370 G4 / DL380 G4 XEON DP 3200/1.0MB-800 PROCESSOR OPTION KIT
1 343055-B21 1GB 400MHZ DDR PC3200 REGISTERED ECC SDRAM DIMMS (2 * 512MB INTERLEAVED)
9 286778-B22 72.8GB Pluggable Ultra320 SCSI 15,000 rpm Universal Hard Drive (1in)
1 273915-B21 Smart Array 6402/128 Controller
1 302970-B21 Model MSA30 DB - Rack-mountable 14 drive enclosure with dual bus, redundant power supplies
1 293048-B21 ProLiant DL380 G3 Hot Plug Redundant Fan Option Kit
1 355892-B21 HP DL380 G4 Redundant Power Supply
1 346914-B21 Smart Array 6i 128MB Battery Backed Write Cache Enabler Option Kit
1 273913-B21 256-MB DDR, Battery-Backed Cache Upgrade Kit for SA-6400

[Ken Henault]

Drop the 6i 128MB Battery Backed Write Cache Enabler Option Kit. You won't be using the 6i at all. Change the 6402 to a 6404, all 3 SCSI busses MUST be on the same controller if you want an array across all them.

Smart Array 6404/256 Controller 273914-B21.

[Ken Henault]

As another suggestion, add two more drives. Place those internal to the DL380. You should place the OS, and the DB log files on this mirror set. It will GREATLY improve the DB performance.

[Manoj Schroff]

Hello Ken,

I am a little confused and I apologise if I am about to ask some simple questions.
Going by the current config, I have three channels. So I can put a raid 5 on each controller made up of three disks - know as the vertical strategy. Are you saying that I should use the horizontal strategy, ie three raid fives consisting of three disks each but ustilising three channels per each raid ?

ALso why use 6404 instead of 6i and 6402 ?

Thx

Manoj

[Ken Henault]

My bad, I thought you wanted 1 big RAID 5 array. Your configuration is good. But still, going to a 6404 will offer better peformance. the 6i isn't as fast as the 6404, so that array will have a little les performance.