Linux – What RAID controller comes with DL360 G7

hphp-prolianthp-smart-arraylinuxssd

I plan to setup RAID10 using SSD drives.

What RAID controller comes with the HP DL360 G7?

Is it a real Hardware RAID controller?

And it is compatible with CentOS Linux?

Will SSD be ok in RAID10?

Best Answer

The HP ProLiant DL360 G7 will usually leverage an onboard Smart Array P410 RAID controller.

The controller is Linux-compatible and uses a driver that has been in the Linux mainline kernel for over a decade. Depending on your specific OS choice, you will end up using the older CCISS driver or the newer HPSA driver.

As for SSDs, I've used a wide variety with HP Smart Array controllers. The only drives that cause problems are some SATA SSDs whose firmware do not report a valid temperature to the controller and some STEC ZeusIOPS SAS enterprise SSDs that give bogus S.M.A.R.T. errors.

I have a new DL380 G7 going into production running CentOS 6.2 and a Smart Array P410 controller with a RAID 1+0 comprised of OWC Mercury Pro drives (Sandforce controllers).

[root@Mew ~]# hpacucli ctrl all show config

Smart Array P410i in Slot 0 (Embedded)    (sn: 500143801664FE50)
   array B (Solid State SATA, Unused Space: 0 MB)


      logicaldrive 2 (447.1 GB, RAID 1+0, OK)

      physicaldrive 1I:1:3 (port 1I:box 1:bay 3, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
      physicaldrive 1I:1:4 (port 1I:box 1:bay 4, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
      physicaldrive 2I:1:7 (port 2I:box 1:bay 7, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
      physicaldrive 2I:1:8 (port 2I:box 1:bay 8, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)

   SEP (Vendor ID PMCSIERA, Model  SRC 8x6G) 250 (WWID: 500143801664FE5F)

The specific disk detail is below. Some things don't work. These are 6G drives reporting at 3G. The wear-indicator functionality does not work. However, temperature is reported correctly and all other RAID/Smart Array features work properly:

   Array: B
      Interface Type: Solid State SATA
      Unused Space: 0 MB
      Status: OK

     Logical Drive: 2
         Size: 447.1 GB
         Fault Tolerance: RAID 1+0
         Status: OK
         Array Accelerator: Enabled
         Unique Identifier: 600508B1001C7CD812E02A4D76975D0A
         Disk Name: /dev/sdb
         Mount Points: /data 447.1 GB
         Mirror Group 0:
            physicaldrive 1I:1:3 (port 1I:box 1:bay 3, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
            physicaldrive 2I:1:7 (port 2I:box 1:bay 7, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
         Mirror Group 1:
            physicaldrive 1I:1:4 (port 1I:box 1:bay 4, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)
            physicaldrive 2I:1:8 (port 2I:box 1:bay 8, Solid State SATA, 240.0 GB, OK)

      physicaldrive 1I:1:3
         Port: 1I
         Box: 1
         Bay: 3
         Status: OK
         Drive Type: Data Drive
         Interface Type: Solid State SATA
         Size: 240.0 GB
         Firmware Revision: 502ABBF0
         Serial Number: MX6G24012E20K3138   
         Model: ATA     Mercury EXTREME 
         SATA NCQ Capable: True
         SATA NCQ Enabled: True
         Current Temperature (C): 38
         Maximum Temperature (C): 51
         SSD Smart Trip Wearout: Not Supported
         PHY Count: 1
         PHY Transfer Rate: 3.0GBPS

Also see: HP D2700 enclosure and SSDs. Will any SSD work?

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