[nycbug-talk] FreeBSD software RAID?

[George Rosamond]

On Mar 7, 2007, at 11:04 PM, Andy Michaels wrote:

> On Mar 7, 2007, at 10:46 PM, Steven Kreuzer wrote:
>
>>
>> On Mar 7, 2007, at 9:48 PM, Miles Nordin wrote:
>>
>>>>>>>> "jv" == Jonathan Vanasco <nycbug-list at 2xlp.com> writes:
>>>
>>>     jv> Is there a preferred software raid on FreeBSD ?
>>>
>>> I think the RAID3 software RAID is theoretically more sound than the
>>> RAID5.  I don't have direct experience, but please don't be fooled
>>> into the crappier implementation by the larger number.
>>
>> Cut n Paste from wikipedia because it sums it up better then I can:
>>
>> RAID 3 uses byte-level striping with a dedicated parity disk. RAID 3
>> is very rare in practice. One of the side-effects of RAID 3 is that
>> it generally cannot service multiple requests simultaneously.
>> This comes about because any single block of data will, by
>> definition, be spread across all members of the set and will reside
>> in the same location. So, any I/O operation requires activity on
>> every disk.
>>
>> I have never used it at all, but I would stay the hell away from RAID
>> 3, both hardware and software implementations
>>
>> SK
>>
> So we have Miles saying (I think) that the RAID3 implementation in
> FreeBSD is better than the RAID5 implementation, then Steven saying
> that RAID3 is the redheaded stepchild of disk arrays.  I'm  
> beginning to
> think that software RAID on FreeBSD isn't worth the hassle and a  
> modest
> investment in a supported RAID card is in order.  Is this the real
> recommendation?
>
> -Andy

That would be my position Andy. . . I would rather just stick to  
hardware.

There's enough cards with the BSDs that are supported, with some  
preferred over others. . .

George