RAID5 Mystery - HELP

ApresDiem

Honorable
Feb 7, 2014
2
0
10,510
Hello,

I have installed windows 2008 R2 on a Supermicro X9SCA-F board, RAID5 array.
Setup was able to detect the RAID array and showed the correct capacity without having to load a third party driver. Installed completed successfully.
NOW, when trying to install a software or copy large amount of data onto the array it takes for ever. I know for sure it shouldn't take that long. On the front panel of the server, i can see the drive activity on each drive. 2 blink normally and one is almost always solid green when accessing the array. I have updated the driver from the vendor. No luck.
Even the raid management software shows the array as healthy.

any idea???
 

mopman411

Distinguished
Jan 15, 2008
104
0
18,710
So this is my secondary server: http://pcpartpicker.com/user/mopman411/saved/3oVX. What I am asking now is why that model, why. Not jumping you for picking that model, PCI is important when using older parts...

Getting to your issue. With the green light there is another color light.. that said if there isn't the second color light is typically the primary light in solid.

This is the fun part and not so good part.

The not so good first. I am going to jump you for using RAID 5. RAID 5 has many issues but the main issues is that performance is about 50% when a drive fails, it will remain 50% until the array is rebuilt. RAID 0+1 negates this. Its known as RAID 10.

The good part now. You are using RAID 5. You have a fail over drive. The controller on the board, while better than software RAID, its not much better... to be honest.

This is what I would recommend, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816115094.

I use that controller in my secondary server. The reason that I use it, not because the throughput is so much better, is because it can rebuild arrays.. and change... into different types without loosing the integrity of the array. Check it out, it beats the on-board RAID.

For now build RAID 1.