Re: Hardware RAID on LSI Logic SCSI

From: kermit (cku192_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 06/30/05 

Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 22:15:11 +0400

Vladimir Mosgalin wrote:

> Hi All!
>
> I'm trying to setup server on box with SE7520JR2 Intel board; it has
> integrated LSI 53C1030 SCSI RAID controller. I need reliability, so I
> want to use RAID1 on two or maybe three discs. Of course, I prefer to
> use hardware one.
>

It is so called IM(E) (Integrated Mirroring Enhanced) where Enhanced depends
on firmware. IM supports plain 2 pieces mirror without hotspare and IME -
striped RAID1 + hotspare. It supports only one array on a channel (and
current real restriction is one array per controller; second channel can be
used for tapes e.g.)

> I created array from two drives in bios.
>
> Now the problem is, although I can see this array with LSI*** ID, I
> can't find a way to see Seagate drives behind it.

Sure, what have you expected from hardware RAID?

> I can't monitor SMART,
> notice drive failure, rebuild array etc.
>

You do not have proper tools that's all. Not that 1030 provides very much
useful information anyway :)
[...]
> I downloaded huge CIM util from LSI site (CIM_Linux30400.zip) - but what
> a joke, it shows array as single disc, without even telling me that
> it's an array.
>

:) hint - GAM server works just fine with 1030 and current version of megarc
- command line tool - may work too (I have not tried it). Check their
download page for MegaRAID controllers ...
 
[...]
> So? Are there any solutions?

For what problem?

> Do all LSI
> controllers behave this way, work like a simple SCSI devices?

Any RAID controller hides real devices and presents you LUNs. Any LUN is a
simple SCSI device for user's point of view.

> Why a lot
> of people recommend LSI then, even when it comes to Linux?
>

Well, I do not have any preference. Current Adaptec (2200 or like) offer
mostly the same functionality, cluster support, nice GUI and command line
manager. May be the only thing Adaptec is missing is 4-channel cards. In
general I believe MegaRAIDs have slightly better performance but I do not
have any facts handy.

=arvi=

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