SCSI Disk/Controller advice please

From: Joao Clemente (jpcl_at_rnl.ist.utl.pt)
Date: 10/30/04

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    Hi.
    For the first time I'm gonna setup a server with SCSI disks (until now
    I've done it only with IDE - regular ATA or SATA)

    I'm getting a completly new server (P4 3Ghz, Dual-Channel DDR 400, MB
    with intel chipset) and, while I have a good ideia on these components,
    I would like to setup a RAID-1 system with SCSI disks...

    I'm looking for advice on these: wich scsi controller should I buy?
    Software or Hardware RAID-1? Wich disk brand? (I'm getting a couple of
    36GB, it is more than enough space for my setup)

    Which are the tradeoffs of hard vs software raid1? What happens/How do
    we proceed if 1 disk fails (how do we know it, how do we replace/resync
    them?)

    This server can be shutdown for maintenance at off-work hours, so I
    don't need any hot-plugging capability.. (this is a controller feature,
    right?)

    I'm quite confused about all the SCSI variations..

    This is what I've found so far are somewhat like this:
    - SCSI disks, all Ultra320Wide:
    Seagate Cheetah 10K 68 pin, 36Gb - 160 EUR
    Fujitsu 10K 68 pin, 36Gb - 150 EUR
    Fujitsu 10K SCA/80pin, 36Gb - 150 EUR
    Fujitsu 15K 68 pin, 18Gb - 185 EUR
    Fujitsu 15K SCA/80pin, 18Gb - 185 EUR
    Ok, no problem with these... any brand/model suggestions?

    - Controllers
    Several Adaptec SCSI Cards from 200 to 400 EUR, wich can have:
      - 32 or 64bit
      - 160MB or Ultra320
      - Raid (or not, when they say nothing.. I think) (the RAID ones start
    at 400 EUR and I've seen up to 950 EUR)

    I'm confused... none of the descriptions of the Adaptec controller I've
    seen state the connectors (68/80 pins)... now add more controller to the
    mess:

    Tekram PCI DC395UW - 56 EUR
    Tekram PCI DC390U2B - 102 EUR
    Tekram PCI DC390U2W Ultra 2 Low WIDE SCSI - 126 EUR
    Tekram PCI DC390U3W Ultra 3 WIDE SCSI 160 - 182 EUR
    Tekram PCI DC390U4W Ultra 4 WIDE SCSI 320 - 223 EUR

    Damn... Really confused... Please confirm these toughs also:
    UltraWideSCSI = 68 pin ... What is "2", "3" or "4" ?!? These seem
    "similar" to ATA 66/100/133 - the bus speed, is that it?
    So, what's SCA? None of these controllers says SCA...

    Any help?

    Ps: I supose getting a SCSI crontroller built-in on the motherboard is
    stupid? Those are low-value/performance controllers?

    Thanks
    Joao Clemente 

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