I'm running a Windows 2008 server that gets a decent amount of traffic (probably 4000 unique visitors per day, mainly on a forum run on mysql & php, not too many). The setup is fairly unique.
I run the mysql server in the main host with a VM (Hyper-V) running another instance of Windows 2008 exposed to the internet for iis/ftp/any other web service. This way, if anything bad happens to the front end, I can easily restore it.
Currently I have two Seagate 7200.10 320GB HD's running in RAID-0 (ya, I know, bad idea, but I needed the space, plus there are weekly backups offsite, and its non-critical) off the ICH10R integrated chip (Gigabyte EP-45-UD3P, all the hardware is consumer). This has been running for about 5 months now. Every once and a while, I get the notion that I should really set up the drives properly ? aka not RAID-0.
Anyway, What I'm wondering is if I should get a raid card instead of the Intel ICH10R chip. I'll be upgrading the hard drives regardless and either go RAID-10 or RAID-0. Is there really a benefit to a good hardware raid controller at those levels? I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16816116042 and would like some opinions. I know you should get a controller if you have a RAID-5 array, but I'd rather not go that route because of all its supposed disadvantages. The fix is due, just becase its time to install Windows Server 2008 R2 anyway.
Server Specs:
Intel Q6600
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
6GB DDR2 6400
2x Seagate 7200.10 320GB
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise
I run the mysql server in the main host with a VM (Hyper-V) running another instance of Windows 2008 exposed to the internet for iis/ftp/any other web service. This way, if anything bad happens to the front end, I can easily restore it.
Currently I have two Seagate 7200.10 320GB HD's running in RAID-0 (ya, I know, bad idea, but I needed the space, plus there are weekly backups offsite, and its non-critical) off the ICH10R integrated chip (Gigabyte EP-45-UD3P, all the hardware is consumer). This has been running for about 5 months now. Every once and a while, I get the notion that I should really set up the drives properly ? aka not RAID-0.
Anyway, What I'm wondering is if I should get a raid card instead of the Intel ICH10R chip. I'll be upgrading the hard drives regardless and either go RAID-10 or RAID-0. Is there really a benefit to a good hardware raid controller at those levels? I was looking at http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16816116042 and would like some opinions. I know you should get a controller if you have a RAID-5 array, but I'd rather not go that route because of all its supposed disadvantages. The fix is due, just becase its time to install Windows Server 2008 R2 anyway.
Server Specs:
Intel Q6600
Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
6GB DDR2 6400
2x Seagate 7200.10 320GB
Windows Server 2008 Enterprise