SSDs in RAID1

[IndyColtsFan]

So, I am starting to think about my next home server build and I was originally contemplating having a RAID1 volume composed of SSDs (Samsung 830 series) as the OS volume. However, after thinking through that a little more, it doesn't seem like a good idea due to the nearly equivalent write usage of each drive. Opinions? Would I be better off using mirrored spindles for the OS?

 

[Smoblikat]

So, I am starting to think about my next home server build and I was originally contemplating having a RAID1 volume composed of SSDs (Samsung 830 series) as the OS volume. However, after thinking through that a little more, it doesn't seem like a good idea due to the nearly equivalent write usage of each drive. Opinions? Would I be better off using mirrored spindles for the OS?

The drive will die of "natural" causes far before it runs out of writes. RAID1 SSD's is a great idea.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

The drive will die of "natural" causes far before it runs out of writes. RAID1 SSD's is a great idea.

Yeah, I decided to go ahead and grab two of the Samsung 830 series 128 GB drives that are on sale at Microcenter for $69.99 each. I'll be piecing the server together slowly over the next few months and thought that was a good enough deal to jump on.

 

[Emulex]

if you use a m5014/lsi 9260 (ebay $139) they have ssdguard. they will move a failing ssd to a hotspare. including raid-0 which if you think about it (raid fails to read-only) can work where hard drives tend to kaput.

 

[KingRaptor]

Great idea. I'd like to try something similar but have always wondered...Do SSDs in RAID still retain TRIM?

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Great idea. I'd like to try something similar but have always wondered...Do SSDs in RAID still retain TRIM?

Depends on the RAID controller. Most of the newest Intel stuff will.

 

[tweakboy]

You will lose TRIM

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Well Microcenter canceled my order for the Samsung 830s, so I'll be looking for some more SSD deals.

 

[KingRaptor]

Depends on the RAID controller. Most of the newest Intel stuff will.

Ah thanks. Looks like an intel build for me next.

 

[BonzaiDuck]

Depends on the RAID controller. Most of the newest Intel stuff will.
.

I could probably look elsewhere for an answer, but your remark brought it to mind.

I have a Z68 motherboard with ISRT-caching implemented (therefore set up as RAID in BIOS.)

I heard (or read) recently (somewhere, some time earlier) that Intel had released a new version of IRST (rapid storage tech software) which provided TRIM under RAID, which in turn could only be implemented with an Intel controller.

What can you tell me? I can upgrade the BIOS on my P8Z68-V Pro, probably by just buying a pre-programmed PLCC chip for about $8 (must confirm that the board has the removeable PLCC option, but I thought it did.)

For some time, I actually may have thought or assumed that TRIM was implemented with Win 7 and IRST anyway -- for my system and chipset. Since I haven't noticed a degradation in performance, I haven't bothered to manually TRIM the SSD for a long, long time . . .