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advice attaching enclosure to computer

imapolak

New Around Here
Hi,

New user here. I have a 5 disk external enclosure connected using a single eSata port to a PCI-E 1x eSata controller card in a JBOD configuration. I then use software raid in a RAID 5 configuration.

I'm having some troubles with random resets during heavy I/O and occasionally, md will indicate that a drive has failed even though it hasn't. I'm not sure if this is a result of the cheap eSata controller card (Sil3132 chipset) or that I'm using "desktop" quality hard drives (as opposed to enterprise quality ones).

I have a cheap intel atom box with a single PCI-E 1x slot.

What is the best way to connect my enclosure? Should I replace my disks with enterprise quality ones?

I was hoping to get a 3ware 9650SE-2LP controller card (seems like a high quality component, well supported on linux) and a esata-to-sata cable. However, I am concerned that the card does not have support for sata port multiplier. I _believe_ I need this feature since my external enclosure exposes a single eSata port. I have contacted 3ware support to ask if this would be possible.

Thanks,
Matt
 
Does your motherboard sata ports support port multiplication (preferably FIS based PM) Try a Sata to eSata cable, and see if you are having the same problem. If you are, it is the card. If this is the problem, you can get a Sata to eSata port bracket, fix you right up.

My 3Ware 9550SX-12 boards supports port multiplication, but checking the specs it looks like the 9650 doesn't (the spec sheet is explicit for the 9550, not for the 9650 ).

Enterprise drives probably would make no difference, the interfaces tend to be the same ( what kind of drives, please don't say WD Greens... all bets are off with that particular drive )

Running five drives on a x1 PCIe slot sounds like it is cruising for a bottleneck, PCIe 2.0 slot and card (I Hope)? Bottleneck or not, it should be working.
 
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