Perc Raid 5/i

[Harald_Jensas at Dell.com]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com 
> [mailto:linux-poweredge-bounces at dell.com] On Behalf Of Ernie Buford
> Sent: den 9 mars 2007 21:16
> To: linux-poweredge-Lists
> Cc: cftongz at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: Perc Raid 5/i
> 
> I asked a similar question earlier this month and got this
> response:
> 
> http://lists.us.dell.com/pipermail/linux-poweredge/2007-March/
029871.html
> 
> Since that time I've talked with a Dell TSR, who told me that 
> the PERC5i can do 2 RAID sets but not 3.  For example, one 
> could set up 2 RAID1 mirrors each composed of 2 disks.
> Additional disks could be added to the other backplane slots 
> but would not participate in a 3rd RAID volume.  They could 
> be treated separately (no RAID) or incorporated into one of 
> no more than 2 existing RAID volumes.  I think it's common to 
> see a 2-disk mirror and a second RAID5 volume using 3 or 4 
> disks in the remaining backplane slots.
> 
> Someone correct if I'm wrong, but that's my understanding 
> after talking with the Dell rep.
> 
> Regards,
> EB
> 

This might be a limitation on a factory configured system. E.g sales can only order a system from factory with max 2x Virtual Disks.

However:
The PERC 5/i card does support more than 1 Virtual Disk. The actual number of supported Virtual Disks, is 64.
The 64 Virtual Disks can be any combination of RAID levels:  RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 or RAID 50 mixed however you like.
 
Even the same group of disks can contain more than one Virtual Disk, as long as the same RAID level is used.



Regards
Harald Jensås