Slow SCSI raid issue...

[Viperoni]

I have an IBM x232 server which I'm going to be using as a web and file server, and as a downloading box.
It must be able to output high transfer rates across the gigabit network I'll be setting up in my home, and handle the various web-hosting and torrent/DC applications I'll be using.

Specs:

dual p3 1.13ghz cpu's
1gb PC133 ECC ram
6x 18.2gb Seagate Cheetah's (U160 10k 80pin) in hotswap bays, for the OS and web server aspect only
IBM Serveraid 4L (16mb cache, no battery backup, 64bit 33mhz PCI)
A couple large IDE or SATA HD's, not raided, for file storage only.
3com 3c996b-t gigabit NIC (with CPU offloading features, 64bit 66mhz PCI)


So here's my dilemma, my SCSI controller offers quite a few raid levels (1, 1E, 5, 5E, 5EE, 10, 1E0, 50) and after having benchmarked a few using only HDtach, I've come to the conclusion that I need more advice on what to select.

My results:

Raid 5: 30mb/s, 8.8ms
Raid 00: 31.7mb/s, 7.0ms
Raid 10: 28.8mb/s, 8.8ms
Raid 1E0: 18mb/s, 8.7ms
Raid 50: 29.8mb/s, 8.7ms

From this list, I've figured the best setup, with redundancy, would be the Raid 5.
I find it odd that the Raid50 didn't do any better than it did, though.
Really, the performance numbers from the raid 10 and raid 00 setup are less than staggering as well.

Besides any ideas as to what could have caused the lackluster performance, what would you guys recommend in terms of a Raid level for the HD's? As mentioned, they'll only contain the OS and light duty webserving duties. That means I need great access times, and as well as decent read transfer rates.
Storage capacity from the Raid setup isn't an issue, even if I use a Raid10 setup and get ~50 useable GB, that's plenty.

I have contemplated using 4 or 5 drives for the raid and keeping 1 for a swap file and 1 as a (hot)spare....

Oh, and I just switched the Serveraid 4L from it's previous 64bit 66mhz PCI slot to a 64bit 33mhz PCI slot, no difference in performance.

Also I checked the cable.... it doesn't have any kind of terminator on it, but I'm assuming the hot swap bay takes care of that.... the cable is different than a typical SCSI cable in that it has a FEMALE connector on the hotswap bay side, not a male. It's pairs are twisted through the length of the cable.

Sorry for the long read, I appreciate any help you guys can give

[Viperoni]

It appears i just have a slow raid card...

http://forums.storagereview.net/index.p ... opic=23352

[ZYFER]

yeah, you definately do have a Slow Raid card, I can get equivalent results with an older and slower hard drive and an old Adaptec controller.

[Viperoni]

I don't doubt it at all. I don't have the money for a better card so it'll be this one for a while. It should be good enough, and I've got it setup in Raid5EE and it's running as good as could be expected.

Updated the drivers in windows for the card as well, no change in speeds.

29.8mb/s and 8.2ms

[Buzz]

Using onboard SATA controller form SiL on my server... not speedy... but it gives me some level of protection anyway...

Whats the difference between Raid5 and Raid5EE?

[smb]

Really the best way to set that up would have been to put the OS on one of SATA drives, and just you web stuff/applications. you shouldn't need anything better than raid 5 for what you are doing.

[Viperoni]

Read up on various Raid levels here: http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocente ... praid.html

As for your setup, I'd personally stick with the OS and apps on the Raptor, and use everything else for storage.

[Buzz]

Oh... hehe... the raptor is in my primary system... have 2x 250GB 7200.9's in Raid-1 on my "Server"

It's only serving my girlfriend for test purposes... and also i use it for backup, sharepoint services and ftp.