[cobalt-users] RaQ XTR RAID Problems

[Cobalt <cobalt@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

A couple of issues pertaining to the RaQ XTR, the ability to
have up to 4 drives, and RAID-5...

 [...]

The 733 and 933 XTR models will not recognize _any_ additional
drives installed in the units for use in a RAID-0/RAID-5 array
beyond those that shipped with the unit.

The only recourse is to perform a complete OS restore _with_
the additional drives installed -- and then run the setup.

 [...]

RAID-5 should be avoided like the plague. Not only does it not
provide any data redundancy (other than data parity, which is
only useful if a single drive fails), but there are "issues"
with the reliability/dependability of the RAID-5 software.

In a single week, we had an933 XTR experience 5 drive failures
within a 72-hour period (yes, 5 separate drive failures). Each
supposedly "defective" drive was replaced by an identical (new)
replacement until, until the last RAID-5 rebuild where failure
occured on 2 drives simultaneously -- essentially rendering all
the data unrecoverable (this XTR is enroute back for an RMA).

 [...]

RAID-1 seems to be the only (stable?) RAID option available. On
that note, does anyone know if it's possible to run two RAID-1
arrays (comprised of 4 30gb drives) to provide 60gb of space?
---

Jay Tingley, BlackSun
cobalt@xxxxxxxxxxx