[XCSSA] Recommendations for a SAMBA/NAS device?

[X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio]

On May 26, 2009, at 10:54 AM, X-otic Computer Systems of San Antonio  
wrote:

> On Saturday 23 May 2009, Tim S. wrote:
> [...]
>>> But running SW-RAID on the same system that's running your OS on?..
>>> meh..
>>> RAID-1 as most.. but I really wouldn't do much else.
>>
>> Agreed. Our "Recommended MySQL DBA Server Config" is a RAID1 for OS
>> and RAID10 for Data (with an optional RAID5 for backups if you really
>> need the space and can afford a DAS). I think avoiding a RAID5 on /  
>> is
>> good practice no matter if it is hardware of software RAID.
>
> Maybe on a big DB server or I/O bound system... but even RAID-5 with
> batt.backed w.back cache is still pretty fast.
>

Well, it depends on your random read/write. With enough drives, RAID5  
can have acceptable random I/O but if you're using 3, it's pretty  
poor. Granted, a MySQL DB server generates a ton of random I/O, so  
outside of this, it might not be near as noticeable. My RAID5 in my  
current setup, which is a 3 drive, runs fast enough for my needs.

In the context of a NAS, I would agree that a RAID5 would be more than  
sufficient. But, I would keep / as simple as possible. To the point of  
going EXT2, RAID1, no LVM. Put all the fancy stuff on the NAS storage  
mount is my theory.

>
>
> [...]
>>> Sounds like one of us needs to do a home-brew NAS presentation.. tag
>>> team
>>> maybe Tim? How about you Firestorm(Matt)?  Sounds like we have  
>>> varied
>>> perspectives.  Might be cool. :)
>>
>> Yep I think that would be cool too! I won't have my NAS ready for a
>> bit but if someone wants to see some RAID and LVM magic, I'd be happy
>> to share what I've learned.
>> Tim S.
>
> I would like to heard about your setup.
>
> Mine is mythtv atop LVM, atop SW-RAID-1.  Works great.  I have seen  
> it recover
> several times from a RAID hiccup.. while show recording, etc continues
> unaffected. (slight increase in load)

That's pretty hot! Do you have hot-swap working as well or just power  
down the Myth to replace a drive? I want to do hot-swap eventually, so  
I need a case that can accept a hot-swap bay. Kinda hard to find with  
ITX form-factor support. Antec makes some file-server class cases that  
support Mini-ITX (dunno how well, though) and have plenty of room. I  
have an Antec tower right now, but it predates the Mini-ITX  
compatibility. Been thinking about just drilling holes in the proper  
places. Can't seem to find a Mini-ATX or ATX board that is geared  
towards low power applications (passively cooled, VIA C7 or Atom type  
stuff). Well, I take that back. I found a few, but they were all from  
Jetway, and I've heard not so great things about them (though mostly  
from NewEgg reviews).

Of course, if I use my LSI card, while I could do hot-swap, I'd still  
have to mess with the damn RAID BIOS. At least I think I will.  
Otherwise, I have no way to know which drive has failed.

Tim S.