[Box Backup] Off topic: Request for server advice

[Stefan Norlin]

> I'm not yet sure whether the motherboard suggested by the assembler (Asus
> M2N-SLI Deluxe with nForce 570 chipset) is well supported by Linux or
> FreeBSD, especially with its hardware RAID, so I might ask for a downgrade
> to something older and more standard. Any suggestions?

As mentioned you should stay away from "fake raid". Either real hardware
RAID or software RAID in the OS. If you go for hardware RAID it is wise
to get an extra RAID controller. Should the original fail you know you have
a compatible one close by. That is the (only?) argument against hardware
RAID otherwise. That you add a dependency towards a specific piece of
hardware.

I like this link on the topic of real vs fake SATA raid:

http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Hardware/sata.html

However, I really like the Dell and FujitsuSiemens "low-end" servers sinc
they run forever and ever and are available at a very nice price.

For example, I have set up "cheap" FujitsuSiemens "Econel 50" boxes
with SATA ("real") RAID controllers (Promise FastTrak) and they work
very well.

Regards,
Stefan