RAID & JBOD simultaneously? Multiple RAID volumes?

[cyberwolf42]

RAID & JBOD simultaneously? Multiple RAID volumes?

Before I purchased my N5200BR I specifically asked eAegis.com via phone if I would be able to set up multiple volumes, both RAID and JBOD, in the unit at the same time, in a number of scenarios, and they said yes. However, I see no way of accomplishing this with the current firmware. Here are some of the things I would like to do -- I would appreciate help from folks on this Forum and from Thecus Tech Support and/or Aegis tech support to tell me if I can and how to do them:

I have the following drives in the enclosure:
500GB
500GB
500GB
300GB (yes, three-hundred gb)

These are the scenarios I would like to choose between:

SCENARIO 1:
Two Volumes, one RAID 5, one JBOD:

• 3x500GB RAID 5 (1.0TB)
  
• 1x300GB JBOD (0.3TB)
  

SCENARIO 2:
If I get another 300GB drive:
Two Volumes, one RAID 5, one RAID 1 (or even JBOD the extra disks)

• 3x500GB RAID 5 (1.0TB)
  
• 2x300GB RAID 1 (0.3TB)
  

SCENARIO 3:
Two Volumes, both RAID 5:

• Use 300GB of each of the 3x500GB and the 1x300GB to do a RAID 5 (0.9TB)
  
• Use the remaining 200GB of the 3x500GB drives to do a RAID 5 (0.2TB)
  

SCENARIO 3:
If I get another 300GB Drive:
Two Volumes, both RAID 5:

• Use 300GB of each of the 3x500GB and the 2x300GB to do a RAID 5 (1.2TB)
  
• Use the remaining 200GB of the 3x500GB drives to do a RAID 5 (0.2TB)
  

The first is the MOST important to me right now. I am VERY interested in this configuration.
The second is next, since I may want to add another 300GB to protect the first one.
The third would be nice to maximize my storage space in RAID 5 configurations.
The fourth would just be to grow the 3rd by another 300gb.

Please let me know.

[zendaver]

cyberwolf42,
I may not be the last word on the subject here, but in my tests of the N5200, it is only possible to create one single RAID volume. Even if you were to somehow hack in and created a second RAID volume, the "folder" management functions are expecting all shares to be created on the one RAID volume.

The N5200 uses open source linux, and I use Unix often enough, but that is more hard-core than I'm up for right now. I would be more likely to try installing Widow storage server 2003 on it. ;-)


-ZenDaveR

[cyberwolf42]

Thanks Zendaver.

According to Thecus email and phone tech support (the domain of which comes from @clairtek.com in case anyone is curious) the N5200 is limited to one RAID array in the box.

Very, very disappointing. Especially considering that the Infrant ReadyNAS has had support for this since the 600 series (and I'm sure the NV does as well):
"Multiple volumes are supported, each with a different RAID level, snapshot schedule and disk quota definition."

I'd like it if Thecus could comment on whether or not this is under consideration for an enhancement to the N5200.

[cyberwolf42]

Has anyone else heard anything about this from Thecus?

This is a deal-breaker for me as right now I have a 300GB Seagate Paper Weight sitting next to my three 500GB Seagate drives in the Thecus unit.

[jamis]

I feel your pain... though my only suggestion would be to unload the 300GB drive on ebay or craigslist while you can still get a decent price for it and see if you can snag a good deal on another 500GB drive or two in the future and just expand the current volume.

That, or stick it in your PC or pick up a dirt cheap external drive enclosure for it.

I'm afraid I avoided the whole issue by using 5 drives from the start. Having done that, I never saw the need fo mix and match RAID volumes over the disks.

My guess is that this wont change given the folder management system they have currently implemented (as mentioned previously). It would probably require alot of replumbing.