Perc 6i... jbod?

[spyrule]

Hello guys,

I'm looking at an older Dell PE2950 (dual quad-core, 32gb of ram) with a Perc 6/i controller. I want to use it as a cheapish NAS.

Does anybody know if the 6/i can be flashed to a 6iR firmware so as to support JBOD?

 

[vanfawx]

No, the perc 6/i is a LSI 1078 controller, not a 2008 controller. As far as I know, this controller doesn't support JBOD nor cross-flashing to an IR firmware or IT firmware.. However you can export each individual disk as RAID0.

 

[spyrule]

Thanks Van. Turns out the server I'm getting is also coming with a 6iR controller (he's throwing it in free!). From what i understand the iR can do jbod after a flash to IT mode (LSI SAS3081E-R IT mode).

 

[vanfawx]

Nice, sounds like a win!

 

[Lost-Benji]

The PERC's are OK little things. Best used for the local storage inside the server. The 6/i is a RAID card while the 6/iR is realy just a HBA, both are limited to 3GbPS. Spinning discs are OK.

Now, you mentioned that you wish to use this system as a NAS, not sure how long you have sat near a 2950 running but noise will kill any deal if the server is going to be anywhere away from a noisy server rack. They other killer, these servers were designed to work and thus aint great on power efficiency. I still use 2950's and 1950's, old machines but bloody good and stable.

Dell PowerEdge RAID Controller (PERC)

P.S The PERC's do allow JBOD, each drive is created as a single VD and then will appear to the OS.

 

[Deslok]

just a heads up it's been my experience that the PERC6 cards are limited to 2tb drives

 

[spyrule]

Yup, that's ok. 2TB drives are so cheap, we'd rather run more drives with lower capacity, then fewer drives with high capacity, but much longer rebuild times.