Is there a preferred connection strategy for Expander/Backplane Stacking/Cascading from a single RAID Card ?
If forced to chose, which of the following 2 connection strategies would you settle for ?
Parts count and cost are not an issue, as I have most of the required hardware already.
(As with many of my silly posts, it's MSPaint time once again - Click image for larger view)
This just seems to be the cheapest and easiest way to expand my Plex Library without getting too exotic.
Please take into account that this is simply a Plex Media Library. Everything Live is already backed up on old/cold storage.
Minimal concurrent Users (<4). Not mission critical. 99% Read Only. Single User (Me) Writing during low volume times to add items.
Data removal may happen in rare cases, but once written to the array(s), it will remain as part of the Read Only Library.
The image below represents my current add-on/expansion storage solution. I have rack space and this seemed to be the easiest way to add
more media storage if/when I require it, without breaking the bank in doing so. Far from an ideal solution, but it does what it was meant to.
Each (roughly) 4U 'Array' consists of a Shelf, 3 fan-cooled drive cages (5 drives each), Expander, Powered PCIe Riser, Cables, Drives.
Not pictured, is the 16th drive (a 2.5" SATA SSD Cache Drive) and power switching solution (need to work on), as I am currently just
using a ground jumper wire on the PSU's 24pin, with control via the power switch on the back of the power supply, prior to booting the server.
The current running setup consists of the above 2U the Server and a single external 'Expander' shelf unit (pic above).
I will however be adding more storage (another complete shelf) in the near future and am wondering which connection strategy to employ.
It's not sexy, but it works (so far).
The Server itself contains the last remaining SAS drives that I own, the shelf is all SATA NAS drives.
With the Server itself and one 'shelf' up and running, I will likely add up to 2 more complete shelves.
I appreciate the advice, whatever it may be.
thanks.
Allan
ps.
Just to reiterate, this is simply a Plex Media Library. Everything Live is already backed up on old/cold storage.
Minimal concurrent Users (<4). Not mission critical. 99% Read Only. Single User (Me) Writing during low volume times to add items.
Data removal may happen in rare cases, but once written to the array(s), it will remain as part of the Read Only Library.
If forced to chose, which of the following 2 connection strategies would you settle for ?
Parts count and cost are not an issue, as I have most of the required hardware already.
(As with many of my silly posts, it's MSPaint time once again - Click image for larger view)
This just seems to be the cheapest and easiest way to expand my Plex Library without getting too exotic.
Please take into account that this is simply a Plex Media Library. Everything Live is already backed up on old/cold storage.
Minimal concurrent Users (<4). Not mission critical. 99% Read Only. Single User (Me) Writing during low volume times to add items.
Data removal may happen in rare cases, but once written to the array(s), it will remain as part of the Read Only Library.
The image below represents my current add-on/expansion storage solution. I have rack space and this seemed to be the easiest way to add
more media storage if/when I require it, without breaking the bank in doing so. Far from an ideal solution, but it does what it was meant to.
Each (roughly) 4U 'Array' consists of a Shelf, 3 fan-cooled drive cages (5 drives each), Expander, Powered PCIe Riser, Cables, Drives.
Not pictured, is the 16th drive (a 2.5" SATA SSD Cache Drive) and power switching solution (need to work on), as I am currently just
using a ground jumper wire on the PSU's 24pin, with control via the power switch on the back of the power supply, prior to booting the server.
The current running setup consists of the above 2U the Server and a single external 'Expander' shelf unit (pic above).
I will however be adding more storage (another complete shelf) in the near future and am wondering which connection strategy to employ.
It's not sexy, but it works (so far).
The Server itself contains the last remaining SAS drives that I own, the shelf is all SATA NAS drives.
With the Server itself and one 'shelf' up and running, I will likely add up to 2 more complete shelves.
I appreciate the advice, whatever it may be.
thanks.
Allan
ps.
Just to reiterate, this is simply a Plex Media Library. Everything Live is already backed up on old/cold storage.
Minimal concurrent Users (<4). Not mission critical. 99% Read Only. Single User (Me) Writing during low volume times to add items.
Data removal may happen in rare cases, but once written to the array(s), it will remain as part of the Read Only Library.