FreeBSD and large harddrives

Indexer indexer at internode.on.net
Thu Nov 18 12:37:08 UTC 2010


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On 18/11/2010, at 22:46, Andy Wodfer wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm going to build a server that's intended to store uncompressed videofiles
> (where 1 hour film equals about 500GB). I plan on using Western Digital 2TB
> or 3TB SATA harddrives.  Total storage in version 1 of this server will
> probably be 8-12 TB. Harddrive speed is not so important so a 5400rpm drive
> would be OK. Seems like the green line of WD harddrives use both 5400rpm and
> 7200rpm. I will use RAID 5.
> 
> The processor will be a 64bit capable Intel processor and I plan on using a
> Highpoint Rocketraid or 3ware Raid controller.
> 
> So now my questions:
> 
> 1. Which FreeBSD version should I install? (it must support large drives).
> I'm currently using the standard FreeBSD 8.1 (STABLE) on several servers,
> but this is a 32bit version, right? I suppose I need a 64bit version when I
> use large harddrives?

Freebsd has been 64 bit for a long time. It supports multiple architectures. You want amd64 (yes, even on an intel 64bit)

> 
> 2. I know that the 3ware Raid controller supports larger drives than 2TB (or
> was it 1TB?). The Highpoint controller I'm not so sure of, but I've had good
> experience with these on a few Windows servers and on one FreeBSD server. My
> setup would be to use the entire disk for both operating system and
> filestorage (in version 1). How can I create this huge partition/slice? I
> don't think the installer (atleast on the standard FreeBSD version) supports
> these large drives?
> 

You can use vinum or ZFS.

> Thanks for your help. I might have follow-up questions as my project make
> progress.
> 
> Best,
> Andy
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William Brown

pgp.mit.edu



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