Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo..

On Jul 30, 1:51 am, Arno Wagner <m....DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote:
> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > Hello
> > My brother has a small business with 7 workstations. He uses a Windows
> > XP workstation as his server but there is no RAID array or tape backup
> > and no free bays in the workstation. I'm looking for an inexpensive
> > way to provide RAID 1 plus tape backup. I was thinking of purchasing
> > an eSATA controller card capable of RAID 1, a (4) bay enclosure that
> > supports SATA II, (2) Sata II drives, and (1) Sata 3.5" tape drive. I
> > looked at the Adaptec 48300 SAS controller but I'm confused about a
> > single infiniband cable that supports 4 ports. Is my plan okay? Should
> > I use scsi instead? I'd appreciate advice.
>
> I think you should use an SATA controller instead. Make sure it
> supports Hotplugging. Apart from that I see nothing wrong with the
> plan. Of course shoftware used and schedule is critical. You also
> need to make the occasional trial-restore on the spare server hardware.
>
> Arno

Hi Arno

Thanks for the information. Is there any specific enclosure and
controller you'd recommend? I was thinking adaptec controller and an
enclosure like the one at this link:
http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat3e.asp

thanks
 >> Stay informed about: Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo.. 

Previously BrooklynBadass <nedhart RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 30, 1:51 am, Arno Wagner <m... RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote:
>> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh... RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > Hello
>> > My brother has a small business with 7 workstations. He uses a Windows
>> > XP workstation as his server but there is no RAID array or tape backup
>> > and no free bays in the workstation. I'm looking for an inexpensive
>> > way to provide RAID 1 plus tape backup. I was thinking of purchasing
>> > an eSATA controller card capable of RAID 1, a (4) bay enclosure that
>> > supports SATA II, (2) Sata II drives, and (1) Sata 3.5" tape drive. I
>> > looked at the Adaptec 48300 SAS controller but I'm confused about a
>> > single infiniband cable that supports 4 ports. Is my plan okay? Should
>> > I use scsi instead? I'd appreciate advice.
>>
>> I think you should use an SATA controller instead. Make sure it
>> supports Hotplugging. Apart from that I see nothing wrong with the
>> plan. Of course shoftware used and schedule is critical. You also
>> need to make the occasional trial-restore on the spare server hardware.
>>
>> Arno

> Hi Arno

> Thanks for the information. Is there any specific enclosure and
> controller you'd recommend? I was thinking adaptec controller and an
> enclosure like the one at this link:
> http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat3e.asp

As to controller, Adaptec is high-priced trash. For example 3ware
makes excellent controllers. We also have some Arcea controllers
running 8 disk RAID6 with excellent performance under Linux and no
problems so far, although disk moniroting is a bit obscure. You can
get the Arcea ones with a direct multilane connector to the outside.

As for enclosure, I only have experience with single-disk ones, but I
recognize the disk trays in the one you ask about. I had to throw away
two (out of two) of them, because the PCBs were so shoddily
manufactured that I got SATA interface errors. Cooling is also pretty
bad. And then the case seems to use internal SATA cables, which is
asking for trouble.

This one http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44x.asp
looks a lot better.

Arno
 >> Stay informed about: Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo.. 

On Jul 30, 6:56 pm, Arno Wagner <m... DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote:
> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh... DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> > On Jul 30, 1:51 am, Arno Wagner <m... DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote:
> >> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh... DeleteThis @hotmail.com> wrote:
> >> > Hello
> >> > My brother has a small business with 7 workstations. He uses a Windows
> >> > XP workstation as his server but there is no RAID array or tape backup
> >> > and no free bays in the workstation. I'm looking for an inexpensive
> >> > way to provide RAID 1 plus tape backup. I was thinking of purchasing
> >> > an eSATA controller card capable of RAID 1, a (4) bay enclosure that
> >> > supports SATA II, (2) Sata II drives, and (1) Sata 3.5" tape drive. I
> >> > looked at the Adaptec 48300 SAS controller but I'm confused about a
> >> > single infiniband cable that supports 4 ports. Is my plan okay? Should
> >> > I use scsi instead? I'd appreciate advice.
>
> >> I think you should use an SATA controller instead. Make sure it
> >> supports Hotplugging. Apart from that I see nothing wrong with the
> >> plan. Of course shoftware used and schedule is critical. You also
> >> need to make the occasional trial-restore on the spare server hardware.
>
> >> Arno
> > Hi Arno
> > Thanks for the information. Is there any specific enclosure and
> > controller you'd recommend? I was thinking adaptec controller and an
> > enclosure like the one at this link:
> >http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat3e.asp
>
> As to controller, Adaptec is high-priced trash. For example 3ware
> makes excellent controllers. We also have some Arcea controllers
> running 8 disk RAID6 with excellent performance under Linux and no
> problems so far, although disk moniroting is a bit obscure. You can
> get the Arcea ones with a direct multilane connector to the outside.
>
> As for enclosure, I only have experience with single-disk ones, but I
> recognize the disk trays in the one you ask about. I had to throw away
> two (out of two) of them, because the PCBs were so shoddily
> manufactured that I got SATA interface errors. Cooling is also pretty
> bad. And then the case seems to use internal SATA cables, which is
> asking for trouble.
>
> This onehttp://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44x.asp
> looks a lot better.
>
> Arno- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks for your reply Arno. I had no idea which controllers were the
better ones. This is a great start for me. Thanks for pointing out the
enclosure too.
I contacted one vendor to ask if I could put a tape drive in their
enclosure and the answer was "I don't know, no one has ever done
that". I don't think placing a sata tape drive in an enclosure should
pose a problem. My plan is to have mirrored hard drives drives and a
tape drive in a single enclosure that will be plugged into an XP
workstation and later on, if necessary, a Windows 2003 file server.

thanks again.
 >> Stay informed about: Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo.. 

Previously BrooklynBadass <nedhart.DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
> On Jul 30, 6:56 pm, Arno Wagner <m....DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote:
>> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > On Jul 30, 1:51 am, Arno Wagner <m....DeleteThis@privacy.net> wrote:
>> >> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >> > Hello
>> >> > My brother has a small business with 7 workstations. He uses a Windows
>> >> > XP workstation as his server but there is no RAID array or tape backup
>> >> > and no free bays in the workstation. I'm looking for an inexpensive
>> >> > way to provide RAID 1 plus tape backup. I was thinking of purchasing
>> >> > an eSATA controller card capable of RAID 1, a (4) bay enclosure that
>> >> > supports SATA II, (2) Sata II drives, and (1) Sata 3.5" tape drive. I
>> >> > looked at the Adaptec 48300 SAS controller but I'm confused about a
>> >> > single infiniband cable that supports 4 ports. Is my plan okay? Should
>> >> > I use scsi instead? I'd appreciate advice.
>>
>> >> I think you should use an SATA controller instead. Make sure it
>> >> supports Hotplugging. Apart from that I see nothing wrong with the
>> >> plan. Of course shoftware used and schedule is critical. You also
>> >> need to make the occasional trial-restore on the spare server hardware.
>>
>> >> Arno
>> > Hi Arno
>> > Thanks for the information. Is there any specific enclosure and
>> > controller you'd recommend? I was thinking adaptec controller and an
>> > enclosure like the one at this link:
>> >http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat3e.asp
>>
>> As to controller, Adaptec is high-priced trash. For example 3ware
>> makes excellent controllers. We also have some Arcea controllers
>> running 8 disk RAID6 with excellent performance under Linux and no
>> problems so far, although disk moniroting is a bit obscure. You can
>> get the Arcea ones with a direct multilane connector to the outside.
>>
>> As for enclosure, I only have experience with single-disk ones, but I
>> recognize the disk trays in the one you ask about. I had to throw away
>> two (out of two) of them, because the PCBs were so shoddily
>> manufactured that I got SATA interface errors. Cooling is also pretty
>> bad. And then the case seems to use internal SATA cables, which is
>> asking for trouble.
>>
>> This onehttp://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44x.asp
>> looks a lot better.
>>
>> Arno- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -

> Thanks for your reply Arno. I had no idea which controllers were the
> better ones.

Well I had one very bad experience with Adaptec a long timne ago
and another one about two years ago. Then I found out that
other people also have trouble with Adaptec. I guess they just have
enough brand recognition that they do not need to care about
quality anymore. A bit like 3com (maker of the absolutely worst
branded networking equipment on the market...).

> This is a great start for me. Thanks for pointing out the
> enclosure too.
> I contacted one vendor to ask if I could put a tape drive in their
> enclosure and the answer was "I don't know, no one has ever done
> that". I don't think placing a sata tape drive in an enclosure should
> pose a problem.

I don't see why it should be. It is no different from connecting
a tape drive internally.

> My plan is to have mirrored hard drives drives and a
> tape drive in a single enclosure that will be plugged into an XP
> workstation and later on, if necessary, a Windows 2003 file server.

> thanks again.

You are welcome.

Arno
 >> Stay informed about: Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo.. 

"Arno Wagner" <me.TakeThisOut@privacy.net> wrote in message news:5hjordF3k7c6uU1@mid.individual.net
> Previously BrooklynBadass <nedhart.TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > On Jul 30, 6:56 pm, Arno Wagner <m....TakeThisOut@privacy.net> wrote:
> > > Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > > On Jul 30, 1:51 am, Arno Wagner <m....TakeThisOut@privacy.net> wrote:
> > > > > Previously BrooklynBadass <nedh....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
> > > > > > Hello
> > > > > > My brother has a small business with 7 workstations. He uses a Windows
> > > > > > XP workstation as his server but there is no RAID array or tape backup
> > > > > > and no free bays in the workstation. I'm looking for an inexpensive
> > > > > > way to provide RAID 1 plus tape backup. I was thinking of purchasing
> > > > > > an eSATA controller card capable of RAID 1, a (4) bay enclosure that
> > > > > > supports SATA II, (2) Sata II drives, and (1) Sata 3.5" tape drive. I
> > > > > > looked at the Adaptec 48300 SAS controller but I'm confused about a
> > > > > > single infiniband cable that supports 4 ports. Is my plan okay? Should
> > > > > > I use scsi instead? I'd appreciate advice.
> > >
> > > > > I think you should use an SATA controller instead. Make sure it
> > > > > supports Hotplugging. Apart from that I see nothing wrong with the
> > > > > plan. Of course shoftware used and schedule is critical. You also
> > > > > need to make the occasional trial-restore on the spare server hardware.
> > >
> > > > > Arno
> > > > Hi Arno
> > > > Thanks for the information. Is there any specific enclosure and
> > > > controller you'd recommend? I was thinking adaptec controller and an
> > > > enclosure like the one at this link:
> > > > http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat3e.asp
> > >
> > > As to controller, Adaptec is high-priced trash. For example 3ware
> > > makes excellent controllers. We also have some Arcea controllers
> > > running 8 disk RAID6 with excellent performance under Linux and no
> > > problems so far, although disk moniroting is a bit obscure. You can
> > > get the Arcea ones with a direct multilane connector to the outside.
> > >
> > > As for enclosure, I only have experience with single-disk ones, but I
> > > recognize the disk trays in the one you ask about. I had to throw away
> > > two (out of two) of them, because the PCBs were so shoddily
> > > manufactured that I got SATA interface errors. Cooling is also pretty
> > > bad. And then the case seems to use internal SATA cables, which is
> > > asking for trouble.
> > >
> > > This onehttp://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44x.asp
> > > looks a lot better.
>
> > Thanks for your reply Arno. I had no idea which controllers were the
> > better ones.

Neither does babblebot.

>
> Well I had one very bad experience with Adaptec a long timne ago
> and another one about two years ago. Then I found out that
> other people also have trouble with Adaptec. I guess they just have
> enough brand recognition that they do not need to care about
> quality anymore. A bit like 3com (maker of the absolutely worst
> branded networking equipment on the market...).
>
> > This is a great start for me. Thanks for pointing out the
> > enclosure too.
> > I contacted one vendor to ask if I could put a tape drive in their
> > enclosure and the answer was "I don't know, no one has ever done
> > that". I don't think placing a sata tape drive in an enclosure should
> > pose a problem.

> I don't see why it should be. It is no different from connecting
> a tape drive internally.

Like there is no difference between SATA and eSATA.

>
> > My plan is to have mirrored hard drives drives and a
> > tape drive in a single enclosure that will be plugged into an XP
> > workstation and later on, if necessary, a Windows 2003 file server.
>
> > thanks again.
>
> You are welcome.
>
> Arno
 >> Stay informed about: Is anyone using eSATA? Need advice on controller and enclo..