New Server Features for 20 users?

for the life of me I cant properly configure the raid options on the Dell website. I'm looking for a OS drive raid 1 and a 4tb data drive raid 5. Can't seem to pick the right configuration for the raid controller. My dell rep is gone for the day and the chat people say I have to go through the rep.
 
It's all about risk management. Price as well to be honest.

Drives fail and sometimes badly. So splitting up the functions of OS and Data helps reduce that risk. Also you can optimize the drive config for each use. Many people like to use a pair of drives for the OS configured as RAID 1. The drive size will be smaller as it's just for the OS and core services. So you could get by with, say, a pair 250gb SSD's. Then you can do the data as RAID 6. I like doing mine with a hot spare as well. The link below, and there are many others, has a calculator.

https://www.servethehome.com/raid-calculator/
 
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What about using software raid for the OS and hardware raid for the data? I can't seem to find a combo that works on Dells site for a 4tb data drive


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I usually by my server barbones from my distributor and then put in what I like, it gets me more bang for my buck and I get to choose. If you are trying to configure raid options on dells website you're better off calling them. Also do they really need 4tb drives, what do they have now for storage drives?
 
CLC said:
I usually by my server barbones from my distributor and then put in what I like, it gets me more bang for my buck and I get to choose. If you are trying to configure raid options on dells website you're better off calling them. Also do they really need 4tb drives, what do they have now for storage drives?
Click to expand...
I think it's 4TB total.
 
I do know that the H700 and 6i controllers on mine will do 2 or more different VD's. You have to create 2 disk groups. As far as Dell doing the config for you. Don't waste your time, it's really easy to do yourself. I see you have an H330 in your config and I think that can handle it. But confirm with you rep first. I also see you have an H830 in there. Why?

As far as drives. As mentioned look seriously at SSD, at least for the OS. If you want spindles don't do SATA, they are much slower than SAS. And SAS do not cost a whole lot more than SATA.
 
Last edited:
Velvis said:
What about using software raid for the OS and hardware raid for the data? I can't seem to find a combo that works on Dells site for a 4tb data drive


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Click to expand...

No reason for that...if you have a hardware (real) RAID controller..put all drives on it. It's not like they offer a hardware RAID controller that will only take 2 drives. Why handicap the OS drives with fake-raid if you have a hardware controller on there for the data volume?

Yes sometimes Dells online cart gets dumb with the raid configs...just get the controller...get the drives you want...and you can configure it when you receive it. Or call and get a rep to configure it.

Splitting OS and data (and optionally more like Apps or SQL log volumes) gains performance as things scale up. For a smaller biz...not a big difference. But as things like Exchange and/or SQL and folder redirections and numbers of clients grow...it starts to shine.
 
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