MacPro RAID Config

[PALitig8r]

Looking for some advice, and perhaps a pointer to instructions on best practices for setting up a RAID array on my (not yet received, darn it) Mac Pro. I'm due to receive in the next couple of weeks: 2.66 Mac Pro, 2 GB RAM, 500 GB HD, XT1900 card, wireless/bluetooth. I also just ordered 3 320GB Seagate 7200.10 drives from NewEgg (total cost w/ shipping and tax an amazing $305).

The heavy apps will include photo/video editing (Aperture, Photoshop, FCP) on a 30" Apple Cinema Display (which is just sitting on my desk looking lonely -- waiting for that MacPro to arrive). While I wait, I figured I could gather some information on how to configure the drives when the box arrives.

It sounds like you get quite a bit of performance enhancement from running a RAID 0, but failure is a great risk and therefore requires more backup. With 1.4TB of disk space, my hope is that I'll have sufficient quantity to run an efficient RAID while regularly (automated?) backing up for safety and security. I've got an external USB 300GB drive I currently use for backup purposes.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how best to configure the setup to maximize speed and backup? I haven't yet found online any straightforward instructions for how to set this up in OS X so any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Macinposh]

I am piggybacking this thread too (sorry Tiger.. ), since i have a similar usage for my rig.Tried to read out on possible configs, but there is not that much data aviable for comparisons..

I ordered the 3.0 with the smaller 160GB and I am getting 2x74GB Raptors on top of that.
In few weeks i will get 2x500/750 Segates.


So

1. 1x160GB = 7200RPM

2. 2x74GB = 10.000RPM

3 2x500/750GB = 7200RPM


Sooo..

Possible setups.

1.

1 Raptor as Boot volume
1 Raptor as Scrach
1 160GB as Temp File Disk
2 750GB as Storage Disks in Raid 1,mirroring each other.

2.

2 Raptors as Boot+Scrach in Raid 0
1 160GB as extra Scrach
2 750GBs as Above.

3.

1 Raptor as Boot
1 Raptor as Scratch
1 160GB as Program disk
2 750GB as above


Eeh...

I think the 1st is the only feasible, or?

Using the Raptros together as RAID 0 as a boot AND Scratch would be stoopid,i guess?Too much conflicting r/w?

 

[amin]

What about 1 500GB as boot/store with another 500GB as a mirror along with the two 74GB HDs striped as scratch?

 

[bigbossbmb]

I would suggest

1 150gb Raptor (boot)
1 500/750gb (storage)
2 74gb Raptor in Raid0 (Scratch)

 

[bigbossbmb]

Software based Raid (like through OS X) will not give you the performance increase of Hardware based Raid (from a PCI card). Don't expect miracles.

For the OP, I would probably not put the hard drives in a RAID configuration...
just keep the 500gb as the boot drive. Put your Aperture Library on one of the 320's. Make another one for Video work. Then designate the last one as a scratch disk for all your programs.

 

[RiseAgainst]

As far I as have seen the Raptor drives are only SATA, not SATA II. This probably would have an impact on performace compared to the other drives being SATA II.

 

[PALitig8r]

Back to the First RAID question

Raptors aside, any other thoughts on best practices when you have 4 drives? Seems I've seen some who have received a noticed speed increase when using a RAID 0. Is it possible to deploy as follows:

500 GB -- boot drive / scratch disk / applications (i.e., nothing that can't be recreated if it dies)

2x360 GB drives RAID 0 / 1 360GB for RAID 1 backup for Photo and data files which would provide a fast RAID 0 plus an automated backup?

What about striping the 500+360 as raid 0 and using the two remaining 360s for the RAID 1 backup and just put everything on it

(granted both solutions would give me a backup of less than than the primary, but it'll be sometime before I fill it all)

 

[amin]

As far I as have seen the Raptor drives are only SATA, not SATA II. This probably would have an impact on performace compared to the other drives being SATA II.

None of the professional reviews I have seen demonstrate this. The 150GB Raptor 2outpeforms every other SATA drive to which it has been compared.

 

[hal0n]

true raid 0/1/etc requires that the drives be the same type and size (or they will only be used as the size of the smallest drive in the array). secondly, the mac pro doesn't support hardware raid... it supports software raid. that's gives you all of the risks of raid and not all of the benefits.

i have 2 500gb's concatted (jbod) in my mac pro.

 

[devmage]

That is the only thing that bugged the crap out of me. Every PC I've had or built for family/friends in the last few years has had hardware raid in it. ALL of these machines were a fraction of the price of the Mac Pro. The fact it does not have hardware raid in it is nothing short of incredibly lame. That said I still bought one :b After all my current Power Mac G5 doesn't have it either. I was looking forward to having it though and its annoying that it turns out it didn't.