I am working on a server build project for work and have inherited the following items that I need to figure out the best way to handle and configure.
- 2 of these: I/O Crest SY-PEX40008 PCI-e SATA II Host Controller Card
- 8 or 9 of these: Hitachi Deskstar 5K3000 HDS5C3020ALA632 (0F12117) 2TB 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive
The primary aims of this box will be to provide storage services and file sharing for a number of clients through NFS, possibly SAMBA if we cannot get the Windows clients to connect to NFS, and maybe function as a DNLA server for some TV's or media boxes that we have from the stored content on the server. We would also like to use part of this storage as possible space for Linux KVMs.
We would also like to utilize the following items within the Red Hat/Cent OS/Scientific Linux world:
- LVMs for expandable or changeable space
- LUKS for encryption of the data
- And a RAID level of some sort - but we have found confusing information about this that is listed below and we are not sure if it is accurate
- Linux's LVM supports RAID 0 and RAID 1
- Linux's md supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 4, RAID 5, RAID 6, and all nestings.
- The I/O Crest card supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, and RAID 10
The challenge and questions that we have include the following:
- What RAID level would be the best for our applications that we intended to use?
- Would it be better to have the I/O Crest card handle the RAID or to let Linux perform the RAID in software?
- We initially were considering RAID 6 for fault tolerance but are not sure if that was an appropriate choice and if it would even work considering that many of the items listed do not support it?
- Is there a better way to do this?
- What are the trade-offs or considerations that need to be made in terms of speed and in the event of a recovery?