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question on raid

I have no prior experience with RAID and SCSI devices. Can anyone recommend the necessary devices? I want to start playing around with it. I'm assuming I need at least 3 scsi hard drives, scsi cables, and a raid controller? Now for the questions:

1. Is it better to learn hardware raid or software raid? (read: what is mostly used)?

2. SCSI hard drives can be run WITHOUT using raid right? You just need a SCSI card that interfaces to PCI slot?

3. What is a "perc" controller and why would I need one?

Any other important terms or devices I need to know?
Thanks

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nihlcat

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ASKER

So in my fileserver right now (just a tower server), do I need both a SCSI card and a RAID controller? Or does the RAID controller allow interface with SCSI devices?

Thanks for the link. Good read

nihlcat

No, you only need the SCSI RAID controller. It handles the task of controlling the drives.

Here's a typical RAID controller standard (Ultra-320)from Adaptec, a recognized leader in RAID controllers:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=706701&CatId=509

Here are the associated hard disks you would want to look at. Fyi: Ultra-320 standard represents 320 Megabytes per second throughtput.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=135

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ASKER

Thanks. So the raid controller goes into the PC. Hard drives connect to raid controller. Got ya.

That Adaptec you linked me to, how many hard drives can connect to it?

Also, I notice it said "The Adaptec SCSI Card 29320LP-R is a low profile, 64-bit 133 MHz PCI-X, single-channel"

Does it just fit into a PCI slot? What does the "Single channel" mean?

Those are my final questions , thanks :)

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ASKER

eh: another question. Could I learn the same stuff by going IDE raid? I know SCSI is faster, but I will learn the same concept right? Does IDE need to be terminated the way RAID does? what are your thoughts on IDE raid?
Thanks

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Callandor

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nihlcat

The link to the card I sent indicates that, yes, it is a PCI interface for installation, and it is a single channel Ultra-320 adapter. On each ultra-320 channel, 16 devices can be chained together. More sophisticated cards have multiple, independent channels for a wider array of RAID redundancy features, or failover.

SCSI allow for many devices on a single chain, but as Callandor established, is considerably more expenssive.

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ASKER

Thanks