zfs discuss - Feb 2008 - Creating 14+ disc media fileserver, suggestions for a noob to the OS?

Sam,
  This sounds like something for the zfs-discuss list.  Cross-posting...

Ed
 
 
This message posted from opensolaris.org

Ed Pate wrote:
> Sam,
>   This sounds like something for the zfs-discuss list.  Cross-posting...
>
>   
What''s the question?

Ian

Cross-posting again... with the original this time  :-)

sumgshiz (http://www.opensolaris.org/jive/profile.jspa?userID=92042)
wrote:
> Hi All,
> I stumbled on Solaris after talking to my CEO about
> the server I was setting up and his eyes got all big
> and he started going on about Solaris and ZFS.  I''m
> experienced with Unix and Linux so I have some idea
> of what is going to go into this but I''ve already
> tried building my file server on Redhat, a couple
> custom fileserver distros and finally Windows Server
> 2003 (raid5) and wasn''t happy with the performance of
> any of them.  In the end I broke down and went to
> Frys and got a NAS enclosure :p
> 
> So, Solaris, this post is essentially asking for any
> obvious suggestions or pointing out pitfalls I may be
> getting myself into, just a nudge in the right
> direction.  Later I''m sure there will be more direct
> questions :)
> 
> Here is the vision:
> -Solaris 10 running software RAID/ZFS2 managing 8
> drives at first with room for expansion
> -I''m under the impression that ZFS2 is similar to
> RAID6.
> -Couple other smaller mount points on IDE
> -All it needs to do is serve files to a windows
> machine (SMB).
> 
> The hardware:
> -I have a 4U rack case which I plan on jamming full
> of discs, a mini-ATX board (4xSATAII ports) and a
> PCIe 8x Raid card (8xSATAII ports).
> -Solaris will run on a 60GB IDE drive
> -I''m putting 8x500GB SataII drives on the Raid card
> as JBOD so Solaris can manage the discs in ZFS2
> -Likely add 2x750GB SataII drives on the
> motherboard''s sata ports shortly.
> -There will also be a 400GB alone and two 200GB in
> RAID1 but they won''t be part of the ZFS2 mount.
> 
> Thanks!
> Sam
 
 
This message posted from opensolaris.org

Ed Pate wrote:
>> Hi All,
>> I stumbled on Solaris after talking to my CEO about
>> the server I was setting up and his eyes got all big
>> and he started going on about Solaris and ZFS.  I''m
>> experienced with Unix and Linux so I have some idea
>> of what is going to go into this but I''ve already
>> tried building my file server on Redhat, a couple
>> custom fileserver distros and finally Windows Server
>> 2003 (raid5) and wasn''t happy with the performance of
>> any of them.  In the end I broke down and went to
>> Frys and got a NAS enclosure :p
>>
>> So, Solaris, this post is essentially asking for any
>> obvious suggestions or pointing out pitfalls I may be
>> getting myself into, just a nudge in the right
>> direction.  Later I''m sure there will be more direct
>> questions :)
>>
>> Here is the vision:
>> -Solaris 10 running software RAID/ZFS2 managing 8
>> drives at first with room for expansion
>>     
There is a huge range of possibilities, depending on your space and
performance requirements.

I suggest you have a look back through the archives of this list, there
are plenty of similar posts and you should find an answer that fits your
situation.  If not, come back with more details of your
space/performance requirements.

Ian

> So, Solaris, this post is essentially asking for any
> obvious suggestions or pointing out pitfalls I may be
> getting myself into, just a nudge in the right
> direction. Later I''m sure there will be more direct
> questions :)
As Ian suggested, definitely search the archives because this question has been
asked many times.
>  Here is the vision:
>  -Solaris 10 running software RAID/ZFS2 managing 8
>  drives at first with room for expansion
>  -I''m under the impression that ZFS2 is similar to
>  RAID6.
>  -Couple other smaller mount points on IDE
>  -All it needs to do is serve files to a windows
>  machine (SMB).
If this was for my home server, I would go with Solaris Express or another
OpenSolaris distribution just because I like to be closer to the cutting edge.
For example, the new beta/experimental CIFS server was recently integrated into
OpenSolaris. Typically, it would be some time before a feature like this finds
its way into Solaris 10. You''re going to get access to new ZFS features
and improvements earlier too. Your choice here really depends on how
conservative you want to be with the OS. I''m assuming you''re
familiar with the difference between OpenSolaris and Solaris 10.

Haik
 
 
This message posted from opensolaris.org

Haik Aftandilian wrote:
> If this was for my home server, I would go with Solaris Express or another
OpenSolaris distribution just because I like to be closer to the cutting edge.
For example, the new beta/experimental CIFS server was recently integrated into
OpenSolaris. Typically, it would be some time before a feature like this finds
its way into Solaris 10. You''re going to get access to new ZFS features
and improvements earlier too. Your choice here really depends on how
conservative you want to be with the OS. I''m assuming you''re
familiar with the difference between OpenSolaris and Solaris 10.
>
>   
If you do go down the OpenSolaris route, make sure you make provision
for Live Upgrade!

Ian

Thanks guys,
Tim answered the general questions and haik thanks for pointing out Solaris
Express and CIFS, downloading that now instead, much closer to what I need.

Sam
 
 
This message posted from opensolaris.org