New Server Setup Hardware/Software Questions

Portal Home > Knowledgebase > Articles Database > New Server Setup Hardware/Software Questions

Posted by Zenon, 07-13-2008, 10:23 PM
So after waiting for more then a month to get all the parts I wanted and getting the system assembled; I'm on the road to an OS installation. Ive chosen a RAID 10 array built with 4 500GB Seagate drives. But am not sure of the best options for the RAID setup. What strip size should I use - 16KB, 64KB, 256KB? How big should I make Boot Volume? Should Write Cache be enabled? Should Drive Queing be enabled? Should continue on error when rebuild be enabled? Storesave profile setting: protection, balanced, Performance? It has dual Quad Core E5410 prcessors SuperMicro X7DCL-I Motherboard 8Gigs of DDR2 667 RAM 1333FSB 4 Seagate 500GB drive (RAID-10) 3WARE 9650SE RAID controller 1 WD 1TB drive It will be running CENTOS 5 as the OS I hope this is enough information to help with advise on the optimal settings. I'm sure more questions to follow Thanks Zenon Kazienko
Posted by Zenon, 07-14-2008, 10:18 PM
So I have most of the settings figured out now, I'm just curious on what people suggest for the size of the os partition. Thanks
Posted by zuborg, 07-15-2008, 07:36 AM
Set largest available stripe size for performance. Enable caching, queuing and continue on rebuild, set 'balance' policy.
Posted by simonapnic, 07-15-2008, 08:30 PM
The OS partition shouldn't need more than 20-30 GB's I'd say. Of course, I suggest having multiple partitions for /home, /usr, /var, / and /boot. /var stores logs and related information usually. /home would be the place your users store files in. For more info: http://tldp.org/LDP/Linux-Filesystem-Hierarchy/html/
Posted by Qualla, 07-16-2008, 06:11 AM
First question. What will be on your server? Small files or large? Firstly, "Storesave profile setting: protection, balanced, Performance?" - tick balanced. "Should continue on error when rebuild be enabled?" - if you have really good admin, choose enabled, if not, disable it. If I were you, I`ll think about other raid controller. I used to use 3ware controller and it was not 'nice ride' with it. Give more informations, what you going to host on this server. Cheers.

Add to Favourites Print this Article