The linked thread talked about many things, but just to clarify:
2TB drives (2.5" and 3.5") will work on the PERC 5, 6, and H700. For the 2.5", it may be a matter of availability (flooding in Thailand); I don't remember if there was a 2TB 2.5" drive available before, but the R710 is currently configurable with a 1TB 2.5" SATA drive.
3TB drives are only supported on the PERC H700; support was added via firmware update, so if you buy one, make sure to update the controller firmware for 3TB support.
3TB support is controller-specific, not system specific, so an H700 in a 2950 would take 3TB drives and a PERC 6 in an R710 would not.
In order for Windows OS's to use a >2TB, the "disk" must be converted to GPT. Windows OS's CAN boot to GPT IF using 64-bit Vista/2008 (or later) installed on a UEFI-enabled system (which the R710 is but the 2950 is not).
On the 2950, the max drive we offer is a 2TB SATA drive. (P/N 0H6GP)
With the R710 the 3.5in drives, max is 3TB NL6-SATA drives (P/N 698PM).
With the 2.5in drives the max is a 1TB SATA (P/N 9W5WV)
The issue the link is referring to is a limitation of the OS. With Windows OS the boot partition can't exceed 2TB, it is a file system limitation. In order to exceed the 2TB limitation you would need to format it as a GPT drive, but MS OS's can't boot to a GPT. The controller itself supports these drives. It is whether your OS does.
I was aware of the OS limitation, so I just create two volumes in the RAID controller, one small one for the boot OS, and then a large one for data. That works fine even in the Perc5. Today I have 6 x 1TB, and everything works fine using that method.
But there are a few threads here that say the Perc5/6 can't support anything over 2TB? It says I need the H700 to support the 3TB drives? So in my R710 with Perc6, will those 3TB drives work?
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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March 5th, 2012 12:00
The linked thread talked about many things, but just to clarify:
2TB drives (2.5" and 3.5") will work on the PERC 5, 6, and H700. For the 2.5", it may be a matter of availability (flooding in Thailand); I don't remember if there was a 2TB 2.5" drive available before, but the R710 is currently configurable with a 1TB 2.5" SATA drive.
3TB drives are only supported on the PERC H700; support was added via firmware update, so if you buy one, make sure to update the controller firmware for 3TB support.
3TB support is controller-specific, not system specific, so an H700 in a 2950 would take 3TB drives and a PERC 6 in an R710 would not.
In order for Windows OS's to use a >2TB, the "disk" must be converted to GPT. Windows OS's CAN boot to GPT IF using 64-bit Vista/2008 (or later) installed on a UEFI-enabled system (which the R710 is but the 2950 is not).
DELL-Chris H
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March 5th, 2012 12:00
Bill,
On the 2950, the max drive we offer is a 2TB SATA drive. (P/N 0H6GP)
With the R710 the 3.5in drives, max is 3TB NL6-SATA drives (P/N 698PM).
With the 2.5in drives the max is a 1TB SATA (P/N 9W5WV)
The issue the link is referring to is a limitation of the OS. With Windows OS the boot partition can't exceed 2TB, it is a file system limitation. In order to exceed the 2TB limitation you would need to format it as a GPT drive, but MS OS's can't boot to a GPT. The controller itself supports these drives. It is whether your OS does.
Let me know if this answers your questions.
billmatthews
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March 5th, 2012 13:00
Thanks Chris.
I was aware of the OS limitation, so I just create two volumes in the RAID controller, one small one for the boot OS, and then a large one for data. That works fine even in the Perc5. Today I have 6 x 1TB, and everything works fine using that method.
But there are a few threads here that say the Perc5/6 can't support anything over 2TB? It says I need the H700 to support the 3TB drives? So in my R710 with Perc6, will those 3TB drives work?
billmatthews
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39 Posts
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March 5th, 2012 13:00
Perfect -- that was very clear. Thanks!!