Is flashing 9260-8i necessary?

[katit]

I'm going this path and getting one for the branded cards (Dell or HP? Or IMB perhaps)

I found this topic:
http://www.servethehome.com/flash-ibm-serveraid-m5014-lsi-92608i-firmware/

If I understand correctly this is not needed, I can install this card as-is in any non-matching hardware?

And.. Is procedure will be the same regardless of brand? Article is for IBM version

 

[mrkrad]

Yup. I don't bother to cross-flash since it could cause issues (and has) with the battery module. The M5014 just uses ibm sourced firmware and LSI drivers..

 

[katit]

I just purchased Dell 03NDP , will it work with no changes (no battery included)

 

[mrkrad]

No problem just flash the latest dell firmware and go to town using it!

 

[canta]

No bother to cross firmware....

 

[katit]

Cool. Since I don't get battery and use SSD, just disable write-back and caching? Any other config advice?

Where do I get recent firmware from Dell?

 

[mrkrad]

google the dell p/n for firmware updates!

For SSD - you want to ensure drive write caching is enabled, no read-ahead, write-through cache! Then pick a reasonable strip size when making the raid - default is usually too large for SSD!

 

[katit]

Do I want caching enabled if I don't use battery? And what would be a reasonable strip size for 512Gb RAID1, 1Tb RAID1?

 

[canta]

google the dell p/n for firmware updates!

For SSD - you want to ensure drive write caching is enabled, no read-ahead, write-through cache! Then pick a reasonable strip size when making the raid - default is usually too large for SSD!

will try that on my M5014 ...
I am using raid5 for 3 SSD

 

[mrkrad]

I would not recommend RAID-5 for SSD! It makes best performance in raid-1

Drive write caching must be enabled for decent performance, I suggest using a UPS solution to prevent power loss! Or SSD with capacitors!

Strip size would be ideal based on the SSD chosen and filesystem. Most SSD are 4KB or 16KB STRIP size and best NTFS would be 32KB each for 64KB total for RAID-1. You have to pick between linear and random i/o performance here!

 

[katit]

You have to pick between linear and random i/o performance here!

Our use is small and I guess random. No big files or video, etc. Databases, websites. What do I pick for that?

 

[mrkrad]

I'd try between 16K and 64KB strip size. Again you will have to benchmark your filesystem/strip size to find out exactly!

 

[katit]

Sorry for million questions.. But. Before any OS installed, what is the best way to check performance of RAID1 on a box?

 

[katit]

Hi there. Between those uploaded benchmarks - which one looks the best for hosting VMs? Applications - development and DB/Web servers...

This is 2x Samsung 850 EVO(500Gb) in RAID1