Supermicro recommendation

[caleb72]

Yeah we are going to go with the Intel config.
The RAID controller I am still researching. I am not 100% sure it will work and the card is not on Intel's compatibility list and the chassis is not on Adaptec's list, although I have sent Adaptec an email to see what they say. I'm pretty sure it would work, but don't want to be holding the bag if there were some weird chance that it does not.
In the mean time I am looking at an Intel controller model SRCSASJV. The only dilemma is that this card comes with 512mb cache and can be upgraded to 1Gb, but you cannot use the battery backup unit if you install the extra cache. So 512Mb w/BBU or 1Gb with no BBU?

[anton (staff)]

Configure StarWind to use RAM as write-back cache. It's going to be better then using on-board memory. Configure StarWind to run in HA configuration. It's going to be better (distributed cache) then battery backup WB cache on controller.

Yeah we are going to go with the Intel config.
The RAID controller I am still researching. I am not 100% sure it will work and the card is not on Intel's compatibility list and the chassis is not on Adaptec's list, although I have sent Adaptec an email to see what they say. I'm pretty sure it would work, but don't want to be holding the bag if there were some weird chance that it does not.
In the mean time I am looking at an Intel controller model SRCSASJV. The only dilemma is that this card comes with 512mb cache and can be upgraded to 1Gb, but you cannot use the battery backup unit if you install the extra cache. So 512Mb w/BBU or 1Gb with no BBU?

[caleb72]

Configure StarWind to use RAM as write-back cache. It's going to be better then using on-board memory. Configure StarWind to run in HA configuration. It's going to be better (distributed cache) then battery backup WB cache on controller.

We are doing an HA configuration. But, to be clear, if setup this way the amount of cache on the controller is not that important?

[peekay]

The amount of cache on your RAID card is not critical as you will be using StarWind's RAM caching. What IS important is the BBU for the cache card AND one or two UPS units (for each redundant power supply in the server) to keep power while the RAM cache flushes (your RAID card flash is protected by the BBU) in the even of a power failure and your server does an orderly shutdown.

In HA mode, the RAM caching is distributed between the Starwind HA servers so again, the RAID cache size is not critical.

I have an Adaptec 5805 controller and it does not seem to read the Supermicro sensors correctly but that does not matter since the Supermicro has its own monitoring software. I cannot comment on the Intel RAID controller as I have never used one.

Cheers!

[anton (staff)]

Absolutely! With the distributed RAM cache on two StarWind nodes it's not critical to have any protection mechanism except UPSes for both nodes (optional). Single node crash is not a disaster - second one is going to serve I/O requests (and flush the cache to disk immediately of course to prevent double-fault situation).

The amount of cache on your RAID card is not critical as you will be using StarWind's RAM caching. What IS important is the BBU for the cache card AND one or two UPS units (for each redundant power supply in the server) to keep power while the RAM cache flushes (your RAID card flash is protected by the BBU) in the even of a power failure and your server does an orderly shutdown.

In HA mode, the RAM caching is distributed between the Starwind HA servers so again, the RAID cache size is not critical.

I have an Adaptec 5805 controller and it does not seem to read the Supermicro sensors correctly but that does not matter since the Supermicro has its own monitoring software. I cannot comment on the Intel RAID controller as I have never used one.

Cheers!

[caleb72]

Thanks to everyone for their help. Made order today.

INTEL SERVER SR2612URR
XEON E5506-2.13GHZ
150GB VELOCIRAPTOR
7 2TB RE4-GP
PRO/1000PT 4PORT
Sony Slim DVD+/-RW DRIVE
3 Kingston 4GB 1066MHZ SDRAM DDR3
Adaptec I-MSASX4-MSASX4-0.5M SAS INT CBL
Adaptec 5405Z SAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER
PROCURVE SWITCH 2510G-24

Will let you know how they run.

[anton (staff)]

Sounds great! Should run circles around any hardware (OK... PSEUDO-hardware) iSCSI appliance

Thanks to everyone for their help. Made order today.

INTEL SERVER SR2612URR
XEON E5506-2.13GHZ
150GB VELOCIRAPTOR
7 2TB RE4-GP
PRO/1000PT 4PORT
Sony Slim DVD+/-RW DRIVE
3 Kingston 4GB 1066MHZ SDRAM DDR3
Adaptec I-MSASX4-MSASX4-0.5M SAS INT CBL
Adaptec 5405Z SAS/SATA RAID CONTROLLER
PROCURVE SWITCH 2510G-24

Will let you know how they run.

[peekay]

Dang... do I get one too!!! Can't wait to hear how it runs!

[anton (staff)]

Should run loud B/c of fans...

Dang... do I get one too!!! Can't wait to hear how it runs!

[sielbear]

We're looking at the same Intel chassis and I was curious why you chose the more expensive RAID card for the first cabinet. I'm considering the cheaper AXXROMBSASMR module and the AXXRSBBU3 battery module. I believe this part is based on the LSI 1078 chip, and from what I've read, it's a strong contender. I am considering the SRCSASJV when expansion time comes, and possibly the XJ-SA24-316R-B by Advanced Industrial Computer 16 bay / redundant PSU enclosure for added disk storage.

Scary how similar our Intel configs were! Similar RAM, same 5506 proc...

[caleb72]

We're looking at the same Intel chassis and I was curious why you chose the more expensive RAID card for the first cabinet. I'm considering the cheaper AXXROMBSASMR module and the AXXRSBBU3 battery module. I believe this part is based on the LSI 1078 chip, and from what I've read, it's a strong contender. I am considering the SRCSASJV when expansion time comes, and possibly the XJ-SA24-316R-B by Advanced Industrial Computer 16 bay / redundant PSU enclosure for added disk storage.

Scary how similar our Intel configs were! Similar RAM, same 5506 proc...

I have used Adaptec controllers for years, more preference than anything.

Waiting on stupid FedEx man to deliver chassis. I have had everything else for a week now. Of course he/she will be my hero as soon as they pull up in the parking lot.

After looking at the AXXROMBSASMR I am not sure it will work with the chassis midplane. According to Intel "The SR2612UR midplane SAS connector to SAS host adapter is through an industry standard MiniSAS connector as defined in SFF-8087." [ ... ] It looks like the AXXROMBSASMR has 4 standard SAS/SATA connectors.
Now I remember the reason I ordered the Adaptec, other than just preference. I was looking at the SRCSASJV with the AXXRSBBU3 battery unit. With the card and BBU it was more than the 5405z that comes with the battery and I only needed one miniSAS connection.

[sielbear]

Hmm - I'll have to see what ships... You may be right, and I'll report back what I get. Looking at the chassis specs for the SR2612URR I see the following listed:
Intel Server System SR2612URR Includes:
- Intel Server Board S5520URR
- Two processor heatsinks
- Backplane with SAS expander
- Cabled front panel (no video port)
- Twelve 3.5" hot-swap hard drive sleds
- Four non-redundant non-hot-swap fans
- One full-height riser with three PCI Express 2.0 x8 wired slots (one x16 connector and two x8 connectors)
- Two Redundant high-efficient 760W power supplies
- Two SATA cables for internal 2.5” fixed hard drive bays
- One cable for optical drive bay
- One AXXROMBSASMR to backplane RAID cable
- Rack Bracket
- Two chassis front handles (ears)

I'm hoping the "One AXXROMBSASMR to backplane RAID cable" contains what I'm needing! Otherwise it'll be a sad, sad day.

[caleb72]

I am hoping mine will be here in the next few minutes. I will post back about the cable in the chassis.

Its here!!!! The One into four cable looks like what you'll need.

[sielbear]

Brilliant! I'm interested to know your thoughts on the chassis - from the web site it looks promising, and I'm hoping it's decent quality.

[caleb72]

All in all it is a nice chassis. It uses the spring loaded thumb screws like HP uses and it only has four of them, two on the back one for lid and another for riser assembly, two inside on riser assembly and 2.5 inch mount. Everything fits together well. The cables for internal drives are just long enough to connect to main board and be routed through cable management.
The drive carriers are metal except for the locking mechanism, it is plastic. Not sure how I feel about them yet, I have seen worse as far as the plastic carriers go, but they seem sturdy enough.
The only real complaint I have is the fan/memory air shroud. It is made of a flimsy, origami folded plastic. Would have liked to seen a molded plastic piece, but it does fit well.