Needs suggestion for redundant Storage

[Chuck Swiger]

Michael Schuh wrote:
> Hi everyone,
> 
> i need suggestions and hints about an redundant
> storage-system.
> 
> My requirements are:
> a Storage that is available via Network, flexible in scalation,
> and must be redundant, and cheap if possible....
> 
> My Own suggestion was this  scenario:
> 
> 2 boxes very cheap for ~300$
> 2 or more SATA-II-Controller ~30$(SIL)
> 4 or more Disks with 200-250GB ~100$/piece

You've obviously chosen to prioritize cheap above anything else with these 
recommendations.  :-)  You simply can't spend less than a grand and expect 
to get even one decent fileserver, much less a pair of machines.

Do not get a Silicon Image SATA controller.

If you want to value redundancy and the ability to scale, you ought to look 
at NAS or SAN systems, such as NetApp filers, or maybe even an Apple Xserve 
and a Fibre-channel switch.

Even if you're not willing to pay that much, you should at least consider 
what those solutions offer for their pricepoints, and then decide what your 
data is worth to you and what your requirements should be.

At the very least, get a multiport SATA RAID controller with a decent-sized 
RAM cache of its own and an internal battery to keep the drives going until 
that cache can be flushed.  As well as an external UPS, right...?

-- 
-Chuck