I am configuring a new server and have a couple questions. The server will be running darkorb cpanel, and eventually NocSoft.

I'm going to buy 2 36 gig drives for the server. What would be better, running them mirrored (raid) or using the second one as the /backup partition? I can then run a script to backup all the appropriate directories to the /backup partition.

You see, the problem is, this is going to be a 1u box, and I am not sure if I am going to be able to fit a raid controller in there (so It would have to be software raid.) I'm going to be going with a tyan 2510 motherboard (onboard scsi 2).

I would really like to run the drives mirrored (hardware raid), so If you guys know of any way to do this in a 1u box, please tell me.

Thanks!

Something you didn't tell us: what is your major intention?

- more speed? RAID.
- more reliability? RAID.
- backup? second hard disk, can be a cheap IDE drive.

The optimal solution of course will be RAID and external backup (tape drive, network backup).

I guess what I really want to know is - what are other people doing? I would really like to raid the drives, but can't seem to figure out how to do this with a 1u box. I'm pretty sure I can't get a raid card in there... and I don't want to run software raid.

Here is what I am now thinking - If I can figure out a way to get a raid card in the box, I can run raid 1 on the 2 scsi drives, and then buy a decent IDE drive to store backups? One of those 80 Gb maxtor's would be nice (however I'm not sure how reliable they are).

I am colocating at a place that does not offer tape rotations, so this is not a viable option.

Ok, so I guess I am now just wondering how to put a raid card in a 1u box!!!

Thanks!

I would suggest using it as a backup hd.