Recommended HBA to use for x2 HP StorageWorks MSA60, 28 HDDs, with a HP DL320G6 for FreeNAS 9.10?

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Isuress

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  • Different generations (The SAS2308 adds PCI-e 3.0 support as well as support for the new software stack that is supposed to replace decrepit mfi).
  • Different feature sets - features that get blown away once the card is crossflashed, so they're irrelevant for FreeNAS.
  • Some have different layouts, with the ports being placed either at the end or at the outside edge - besides internal/external combinations.
Ah, alright; that definitely makes more sense then.

Don't do that. Get the SFF-8087 backplane, since it massively reduces your cable clutter. Or the expander backplane for even fewer cables (but higher cost).
I don't think I'm able to change the chassis' backplane upon purchasing. My vendor doesn't really have that option and I don't think I see that option anywhere on SuperMicro's website. I don't mind all the extra (x8) cables though; I can just bundle them all together. As long as the card and the 2 SAS cables work, I'm happy. I was hoping to make the Production FreeNAS the least amount of hassle. I don't want to do more digging if I don't have to, haha. I've already spent too many days researching :P

Not at all.
If 2 ports are SATA3 and the other 4 ports are SATA2, how could that not effect drive speed? :confused:


I'm dying trying to figure out which of these won't effect my fans. I've Googled so much my head is spinning, lol.
3. We have an HP D2700 hanging on an HP H221 HBA attached to an HP DL360 G5. The H221 HBA can either be an LSI 9205-8e or LSI 9207-8e chipset depending on when it was released; HP is sloppy with its versioning
Seems like he has some in his setup so I hope you'll have some input sir D:
 
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HP Smart Array P800 OR HP H221 OR LSI 9205-8e OR LSI 9207-8e

1. The HP P800 seems to be limited to SAS1 3 Gb/s speeds. It looks RAID-only and I'm not sure if it will work as an straight HBA. So, not recommended.

2/3. We have an HP221 flashed to LSI's firmware with FreeNAS so I know it works. My specific HP221 shows up as a LSI SAS9205-8e after flashing. Yours may show a different model. As I noted earlier, there are several (compatible) LSI chips being sold under the HP221 part number. In any case, both HBAs should be fine.

4. The LSI 9207-8e is a fine HBA and should work well with FreeNAS.

I have no clue how HBA selection affects the fan speed in HP servers.

We have no hesitation to buying equipment from eBay if the seller has a positive reputation and a lot of sales. We almost always buy used/refurbished and a third of the equipment comes from eBay.

Cheers,
Matt
 

Ericloewe

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My vendor doesn't really have that option
Be sure to ask. It might be a weird chassis, but it'd save you a lot of trouble to get the sane backplane.
If 2 ports are SATA3 and the other 4 ports are SATA2, how could that not effect drive speed?
Hard drives barely exceed SATA 1.5Gb/s speeds as it is. SATA 3Gb/s is not a bottleneck.
 

Isuress

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1. The HP P800 seems to be limited to SAS1 3 Gb/s speeds. It looks RAID-only and I'm not sure if it will work as an straight HBA. So, not recommended.
Well that's lovely, lol. That said, I've been told that the HP P800 cannot see drives passed 3TB anyway so that also rules it out. Plus, it's a PCIe 3.0 card and my DL320s only do PCIe 2.0.

2/3. We have an HP221 flashed to LSI's firmware with FreeNAS so I know it works. My specific HP221 shows up as a LSI SAS9205-8e after flashing. Yours may show a different model. As I noted earlier, there are several (compatible) LSI chips being sold under the HP221 part number. In any case, both HBAs should be fine.
If the HP P221 shows up as a LSI SAS9205-8e in the devices, does that mean HP supports that card even if it's not using their specific firmware? Or does the server still kind of know it's a P221 and not actually a 9205-8e which is why the fans aren't speeding up? If that's the case, I can just straight up purchase a 9205-8e instead of a P221. It's about $20-40 cheaper than the P221 on EBay (though still around the $80-120 mark).
If I had a few more options I could probably get something cheaper. Do you know of any other HP controllers that are just rebranded cards? I can maybe look those up and see their prices verses the 9205-8e, 9207-8e, and the H221 price. I don't want to spend too much.

4. The LSI 9207-8e is a fine HBA and should work well with FreeNAS.
That would be your best recommendation for my Homelab setup then?
If you don't think there are any other rebranded cards to go with, I'll trust you, drop the money and go with the 9207-8e.

I have no clue how HBA selection affects the fan speed in HP servers.
I assumed you'd know a little bit more as you have flashed cards in your HP servers.

We have no hesitation to buying equipment from eBay if the seller has a positive reputation and a lot of sales. We almost always buy used/refurbished and a third of the equipment comes from eBay.
No kidding? In your production servers too, eh? Hmm... I really don't know. Does something like a RAID card have a high chance of killing itself anyway? It's an almost $250 difference between new and EBay.

Be sure to ask. It might be a weird chassis, but it'd save you a lot of trouble to get the sane backplane.
I'll ask but I doubt he'll know anything about that specifically D:

Hard drives barely exceed SATA 1.5Gb/s speeds as it is. SATA 3Gb/s is not a bottleneck.
Hmm... I suppose that makes sense but something inside me is telling me that I'd still lose a little bit of throughput somewhere.
 

Ericloewe

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Plus, it's a PCIe 3.0 card
That must be wrong. And besides that, all PCI-e cards are compatible with all sockets if you can get them to fit.
 
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