I'm building a server with a RAID5
array, based on a hardware controller. I want to be able to later add additional disks
and have the array rebalance across all of the disks, enlarging the usable size. I also
want to be able to later upgrade to bigger disks (one at a time, of course) and then
expand the array to fill the entire
drive.
These features are available
in Linux software raid (md). I've also heard they're available in some hardware
controllers. Currently, I own the Adaptec RAID 3805 card and the 3ware 9650se card. I'd
prefer to use the Adaptec if possible, but I can't find if either of these cards offer
this feature.
If they don't, are there other
affordable (read as: sub-$600) RAID cards available that can accomplish
this?
Answer
The Adaptec 3805 specifically states it
provides "Online Capacity Expansion" in its 'specifications' tab href="http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/products/controllers/hardware/sas/value/sas-3805/"
rel="nofollow noreferrer">HERE. This will allow you add more of the same
size or larger disks 'live' but I'm not aware of any hardware controller that will will
let you somehow grow the array with bigger drives, they usually take a 'smallest common
denominator' strategy.
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