New NAS 9.3 Install

[Chadi]

So I originally had a RAID-5 config (4 drives) but in another thread, they recommended a do a fresh install with no RAID, but ZFS. However, I saw no option to disable the RAID and I saw no ZFS option during install. Please explain. Thank you.

 

[depasseg]

[edit: remove the 3ware card], then directly attach the disks to your motherboard. In the future, providing a little more information about your system would be helpful.

 

[Chadi]

This is info before I reinstalled...

Code:

System Information
        Manufacturer: Supermicro
        Product Name: X9SCL/X9SCM
        Version: 0123456789

Code:

[root@nas] ~# dmesg | grep -i RAID
GEOM_RAID5: Module loaded, version 1.1.20130907.44 (rev 5c6d2a159411)

Code:

[root@nas] ~# tw_cli info

Ctl   Model        (V)Ports  Drives   Units   NotOpt  RRate   VRate  BBU
------------------------------------------------------------------------
c0    9750-4i      4         4        1       0       1       1      -      

[root@nas] ~# tw_cli info c0

Unit  UnitType  Status         %RCmpl  %V/I/M  Stripe  Size(GB)  Cache  AVrfy
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
u0    RAID-10   OK             -       -       256K    3725.27   RiW    ON   

VPort Status         Unit Size      Type  Phy Encl-Slot    Model
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
p0    OK             u0   1.82 TB   SATA  0   -            WDC WD2000FYYZ-01UL
p1    OK             u0   1.82 TB   SATA  1   -            WDC WD2000FYYZ-01UL
p2    OK             u0   1.82 TB   SATA  2   -            WDC WD2000FYYZ-01UL
p3    OK             u0   1.82 TB   SATA  3   -            WDC WD2000FYYZ-01UL 

So basically I have 4 x 2TB drives. Attached is the 3ware controller area. I did a "delete unit" option to delete the array.

 

[pirateghost]

3ware.

There's the problem.

 

[Chadi]

Ok, but disliking 3ware is not going to help me at this time ;)

I initially did it as RAID 0, striped to get most storage.

 

[pirateghost]

It's not a dislike. It's a fact that you need IT mode on the controller and I'm betting that controller doesn't have it. Use the motherboard sata ports.

 

[Chadi]

Ahh..I provided wrong screenshots from another test server (the other info is correct)...posting updated screenshots in a minute..

 

[depasseg]

Hardware RAID (like that provided by the 3Ware card) and FreeNAS shouldn't be used together. Choose which one you want to use. If you can find an IT mode set of firmware for the 3Ware card (instead of IR [integrated RAID]) then use that. But I'll warn you, people have been looking for years and it hasn't been found.

 

[Chadi]

Ok funny enough the actual real NAS server also has 3ware. Please see attached.

Would deleting the array disable the actual RAID? Wouldn't it be fine to simply use RAID 0 at least? You know better, so I'm listening. I'm not at the facility now and really have no patience left to drive 2 hours there to do this.

All I want to do is simple daily file backups. Nothing complex. I've been doing it this way, but RAID 10 for about 5 years

 

[Robert Trevellyan]

Wouldn't it be fine to simply use RAID 0 at least?

No, RAID0 stripes the drives together and kills reliability, without solving the problem of ZFS not getting direct access to the drives.

All I want to do is simple daily file backups. Nothing complex. I've been doing it this way, but RAID 10 for about 5 years

Quite understandable, but that doesn't change the fact that hardware RAID and ZFS is a bad combination.

 

[Chadi]

Ok. Please answer my question. If I delete the array in the storage controller, would that be sufficient? If not, what else can I do aside driving to the DC 2 hours away?

 

[depasseg]

So your original post talks about how people suggested you do a fresh install with no HW RAID, and PirateGhost and I have both told you what you need to do. Why don't you want to listen? Either continue to use the 3Ware card and whatever variety of Hardware RAID you desire, or use the servers MB ports (or an HBA) and use FreeNAS.

 

[pirateghost]

Ok. Please answer my question. If I delete the array in the storage controller, would that be sufficient? If not, what else can I do aside driving to the DC 2 hours away?

Apparently you aren't comprehending this.

Your controller doesn't support the mode necessary for zfs to work properly. Period. Full stop.

Deleting the array doesn't do anything if the controller doesn't pass through the disks