We are looking to purchase an intel S2600GZ with two Xeons for a new server. We would like to run a setup of 12 disks, as the barebones we are looking at support up to 12.
The idea is to run the Windows 2012 Hyper-V host on on pair of RAID 1 disks, and then a Hyper-V VM on each of the other 5 pairs (RAID 1).
We are trying to figure out how the RAID on the motherboard works, as it lists the need for a C600 XXXXX Key to enable some features.
What key (if at all) do we need?
Should we consider another add-in RAID controller instead?
Best Answer
Firstly why not just run the whole 12 disks as a RAID 10 array, it's a far better idea than lots of RAID 1 arrays. That said the systemboard won't let you do that (4 disks on one controller, 8 on the second).Secondly you DO need the C600 upgrade key to use that second controller, it costs money, buy one from your system vendor.
A better suggestion, by a MILE, would be to buy a proper good hardware controller, something like an Adaptec or similar. It'll give you a great deal of options of how you do things and outperform the systemboard based one/s by quite a margin.