I have now configured the PV220 in split mode connected to two separate PERC3/DC cards. I will need to let it run for a day or two to see if the system continues to crash (losing LUN's), but my initial impressions are this is the correct way to run. The io/sec has improved by roughly 25% according to the database application with no other changes. Some of this may be attributed to the additional cache, but I did not expect this much of an improvement.
BTW - the disk roaming feature worked nicely, I did not need to initialize the arrays after duplicating the config.
On a side note, my internal disk array (PE 6600) is now running on two channels as well, contrary to Dell Sales support's suggestion, and is running much better than in the single channel configuration.
I have spent way too much time on this, and I hope others can learn from my experiences. Please let me know if anyone needs further detail.
Yet another update. After additional crashes, I investigated the PERC BIOS settings and found the 4/DC controllers were running in I2O emulation mode. This was not the case when the cards were first installed, maybe the firware load must have changed this option?????
Either way I am now running all controllers in "mass storage" emulation mode which should work better with the megaraid2 driver.
I hope this was the cause, as I am running out of ideas - and dell has told me the next step is running the hard disk diags. (This process would take about 48 hours on this system).
Ramon Ray
89 Posts
0
October 20th, 2004 01:00
Hi John,
Yes you can do a split bus configuration with 2 sepaerate raid controller cards. Here is the documentation with pictures.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/stor%2Dsys/spv22xs/en/it/c20.htm#1039656
B_Segurson
107 Posts
0
October 23rd, 2004 01:00
johnsedwards
16 Posts
0
November 12th, 2004 03:00
I have now configured the PV220 in split mode connected to two separate PERC3/DC cards. I will need to let it run for a day or two to see if the system continues to crash (losing LUN's), but my initial impressions are this is the correct way to run. The io/sec has improved by roughly 25% according to the database application with no other changes. Some of this may be attributed to the additional cache, but I did not expect this much of an improvement.
BTW - the disk roaming feature worked nicely, I did not need to initialize the arrays after duplicating the config.
On a side note, my internal disk array (PE 6600) is now running on two channels as well, contrary to Dell Sales support's suggestion, and is running much better than in the single channel configuration.
I have spent way too much time on this, and I hope others can learn from my experiences. Please let me know if anyone needs further detail.
johnsedwards
16 Posts
0
November 13th, 2004 15:00
Either way I am now running all controllers in "mass storage" emulation mode which should work better with the megaraid2 driver.
I hope this was the cause, as I am running out of ideas - and dell has told me the next step is running the hard disk diags. (This process would take about 48 hours on this system).
I will post an update.