PCI-X SATA Card + Server Recommendation

[note at note2email.com]

> A large number of problems people report to the FreeBSD lists involve
> Silicon Image controllers.  There are confirmed problems within certain
> models of their SATA controllers which cause silent data corruption and
> other issues, affecting Linux, FreeBSD, and Windows.  See "Product
> Alerts" below, then try Googling "silicon image corruption".  I'm not
> talking out of my ass.
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Image

Which points to

        http://osdir.com/ml/ide/2005-03/msg00126.html

which says:

        "It's basically because of faulty SATA implementation of the
        affected seagate hard drives combined with standard-compliant
        but peculiar behavior of silicon image controllers."

So you blame Silicon Image for Seagate's bug.  Nice.

I have been using the 3512 with Seagate drives and NetBSD for
several years with zero data corruption.  If FreeBSD has problems
with Silicon Image controllers it isn't Silicon Image's fault.

Word is that the 3124 and 3132 are much better and faster than the
1st generation controllers such as my 3512.  They are documented,
datasheets are available on the web, unlike some SATA controllers.
I would consider them.

> This has been discussed recently on -hardware.  I will stand firm on my
> statement: don't disable write caching on disks.
>
> http://lists.freebsd.org/pipermail/freebsd-hardware/2008-October/005450.html

Write caching on disks enabled:             data loss, fast writes
Write caching on disks disabled, no NCQ: no data loss, slow writes
Write caching on disks disabled,    NCQ: no data loss, fast writes

Sorry, but data loss is simply not acceptable.  When can we expect NCQ
support for FreeBSD?

The ability to turn the disk's write cache on and off is essential.
I haven't found a USB-to-SATA bridge that allows this, limiting
their usefulness to testing new disks, mounting read-only or
for data which is expendable.

> Besides, it shouldn't matter to you if the card
> has RAID capability, because nothing forces you to use it.

The problem is that cards with real RAID are far more expensive.



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