Hi,
I'm in the process of finishing a new server build for proxmox virtualization.
The system is running memtest to check if I'm safe with those memory sticks, and so far so good, finishing 7th pass with 0 errors so far.
At the moment, my new server build goes like this:
- motherboard: X9DRH-7TF
Supermicro | Products | Motherboards | Xeon® Boards | X9DRH-7TF
- chassis: SSG-6027R-E1R12T
Supermicro | Products | SuperServers | 2U | 6027R-E1R12T
- disk backplate: BPN-SAS2-826EL1
- memory: 128Gb (8x 16Gb Samsung M393B2G70BH0-CK0Q9 DDR3 1600 MHz PC3-12800R ECC RDIMM)
For storage I'm attempting to fit SSD disks into my budget, and for the SAS connectors, even though the motherboard have a Broadcom 2208 chipset to drive the backplane, I would prefer an IT mode solution and (at least at this time) not mess with firmware upgrades on the motherboard chipset (I'll be using proxmox and ZFS mirroring).
I've came across multiple threads and a sticky one with a lot of info regarding existing cards, but for me at this time it's way too much info to deal with, hence this post.
Can anyone help me out understanding what would be best for my build and what to avoid?
Since I have a chassis with 12 front 3.5" caddies, I would like to have all of them available to the system (so I know I can slide in a disk on any one place). So I do believe that I only need 1x Mini SAS to Mini SAS (SFF-8087) cable connected to the backplane, correct?
That would leave me with choosing the HBA controller for the job. I've came up with some items I found on the web, and was thinking they could be the solution I'm searching for.
I'm sorry for posting a bunch of links, but I'm new to this SAS HBA IT mode selection, so I'm really hopping that someone can point me in the right direction, or simply telling me these items are crap and look elsewhere.
Hopefully I will get more knowledge from your feedback and your opinions and be more secure of the choice I'll be making.
Genuine LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i = (9211-8I) IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
Genuine LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i = (9211-8I) IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
This looks like an LSI 9200-8i flashed to IT mode (with an 9211-8i firmware).
LSI SAS SATA IT Mode 9201-8I 6Gbps 8 Ports RAID Controller Card = IT 9211-8I
LSI SAS SATA IT Mode 9201-8I 6Gbps 8 Ports RAID Controller Card = IT 9211-8I | eBay
This looks like an LSI 9201-8i (more recent than the above one?) flashed to IT mode (with an 9211-8i firmware).
As far as I can tell, the advantage of this one would be the position of the SAS connectors, as they would be more close to the backplane.
Adaptec ASR-71605 1GB Cache 16-Port 6Gbps, Low profile
Adaptec ASR-71605 1GB Cache 16-Port 6Gbps, Low profile 5054565146999 | eBay
In some other thread someone said that adaptec controllers have already IR/IT mode on their firmwares, so switching between modes would be just a matter of configuration rather than flashing firmware. Don't if those controllers are of any good, though ... but searched one online.
I found some others around, including one from Dell, but they all seem to go around the same chipsets, don't know if they are of much difference:
LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i FW: P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i FW:P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
Dell H200 6Gbps SAS HBA = (LSI 9211-8i) P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
Dell H200 6Gbps SAS HBA = (LSI 9211-8i) P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
So in your opinion, which one would be a safer choice? Or none of the above?
And what should I also base my selection on? The chipset age? Cable positioning?
Thank you for your attention and help.
I'm in the process of finishing a new server build for proxmox virtualization.
The system is running memtest to check if I'm safe with those memory sticks, and so far so good, finishing 7th pass with 0 errors so far.
At the moment, my new server build goes like this:
- motherboard: X9DRH-7TF
Supermicro | Products | Motherboards | Xeon® Boards | X9DRH-7TF
- chassis: SSG-6027R-E1R12T
Supermicro | Products | SuperServers | 2U | 6027R-E1R12T
- disk backplate: BPN-SAS2-826EL1
- memory: 128Gb (8x 16Gb Samsung M393B2G70BH0-CK0Q9 DDR3 1600 MHz PC3-12800R ECC RDIMM)
For storage I'm attempting to fit SSD disks into my budget, and for the SAS connectors, even though the motherboard have a Broadcom 2208 chipset to drive the backplane, I would prefer an IT mode solution and (at least at this time) not mess with firmware upgrades on the motherboard chipset (I'll be using proxmox and ZFS mirroring).
I've came across multiple threads and a sticky one with a lot of info regarding existing cards, but for me at this time it's way too much info to deal with, hence this post.
Can anyone help me out understanding what would be best for my build and what to avoid?
Since I have a chassis with 12 front 3.5" caddies, I would like to have all of them available to the system (so I know I can slide in a disk on any one place). So I do believe that I only need 1x Mini SAS to Mini SAS (SFF-8087) cable connected to the backplane, correct?
That would leave me with choosing the HBA controller for the job. I've came up with some items I found on the web, and was thinking they could be the solution I'm searching for.
I'm sorry for posting a bunch of links, but I'm new to this SAS HBA IT mode selection, so I'm really hopping that someone can point me in the right direction, or simply telling me these items are crap and look elsewhere.
Hopefully I will get more knowledge from your feedback and your opinions and be more secure of the choice I'll be making.
Genuine LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i = (9211-8I) IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
Genuine LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i = (9211-8I) IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
This looks like an LSI 9200-8i flashed to IT mode (with an 9211-8i firmware).
LSI SAS SATA IT Mode 9201-8I 6Gbps 8 Ports RAID Controller Card = IT 9211-8I
LSI SAS SATA IT Mode 9201-8I 6Gbps 8 Ports RAID Controller Card = IT 9211-8I | eBay
This looks like an LSI 9201-8i (more recent than the above one?) flashed to IT mode (with an 9211-8i firmware).
As far as I can tell, the advantage of this one would be the position of the SAS connectors, as they would be more close to the backplane.
Adaptec ASR-71605 1GB Cache 16-Port 6Gbps, Low profile
Adaptec ASR-71605 1GB Cache 16-Port 6Gbps, Low profile 5054565146999 | eBay
In some other thread someone said that adaptec controllers have already IR/IT mode on their firmwares, so switching between modes would be just a matter of configuration rather than flashing firmware. Don't if those controllers are of any good, though ... but searched one online.
I found some others around, including one from Dell, but they all seem to go around the same chipsets, don't know if they are of much difference:
LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i FW: P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
LSI 6Gbps SAS HBA LSI 9200-8i FW:P20 9211-8i IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
Dell H200 6Gbps SAS HBA = (LSI 9211-8i) P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID
Dell H200 6Gbps SAS HBA = (LSI 9211-8i) P20 IT Mode ZFS FreeNAS unRAID | eBay
So in your opinion, which one would be a safer choice? Or none of the above?
And what should I also base my selection on? The chipset age? Cable positioning?
Thank you for your attention and help.