couple RAID q's

[skull]

I have a Ultra 66 harddrive controller and a 10.2 gig maxtor diamond max plus. I've been thinking about picking up another 10.2 gig maxtor and modding the Ultra 66. First I know it doesn't matter if you use different size drives or even different types and everything but is it still better to get the exact same thing? I think the one I found is the diamond max plus 40 and I have the diamond max plus. Second awhile back I heard the new drivers/bios of the fasttrack card prevent the modding Is this true? Does anyone know where I can get the older bios/drivers? Third is it better to have your OS on a different drive so it doesn't get corrupt and sh!t. Forth are the performance gains worth it? Fifth Will I need to format everything and start over?
Thanks a bunch.

 

[kly1222]

1. It's best to get the same model and size. The array will only be as fast as the slowest drive and 2 times the size of the smallest drive.

2. I heard that the newest flash utillity doesn't work with modded cards. The bios and drivers should work fine.

3. I would suggest putting the os on another drive....I've had my array for about 4-5 months and scandisk is starting to report bad sectors. I don't know if my drives are at fault or the promise controller.

4. Performance gains are minimal, especially since you're hooking up two maxtor drives. They are really sh!tty in raid setups. The only raid setup that is worth it would be a couple 75gxp's.

5. Yes, you will need to fdisk and format the array. If you have a spare drive, ghost your partition and restore it later onto the formatted array.

 

[skull]

The drive I have will be slower than the one I would be buying so I guess it wouldn't really matter. Do you know where I can get the older flash utlity(will it be on there site). I normally format and rein stall every 3 - 4 monthes so that won't be a problem. I can just back up fairly often. Do you know if it will be worth it for me? I can get the second drive for $70.

Thanks

 

[Patriot]

No its not he flash utils, its the BIOS that they changed. As for where to get it, I don't have any idea. I havne't seen them in a long time.

 

[skull]

I thought it was the newer bioss but I wasn't sure. Anyone else know anything different.

 

[skull]

bump

 

[geno]

I can't offer much insight - but if you're considering different drives, pick up a couple IBM 75GXPs and RAID em, they're blazinly fast and amazingly quiet!

 

[skull]

I was thinking of doing that it would be like 100 a piece for a the 15 gig version. I don't have that much money to spend(im only a kid making 50 bucks a week)

 

[skull]

..

 

[Stembolt]

You can get the bios and flash utilities by going to http://www.geocities.com/promise_raid/english.htm and scrolling to the bottom of the page. PTIFlash v1.04 is bundled with bios v1.08.

I am currently using the latest bios. I flashed first to bios v1.08 with PTIFlash v1.04 and later flashed to bios v1.30 with the latest flash program. If you go this route, be sure to follow the flash and driver update procedure given by Promise. You must update the driver first, then flash the bios.

However, you may be able to flash your card directly to v1.30 with the PTIFlash v1.04 and save a couple of steps. You may as well try it. You will get a message if something prevents the flash.

 

[skull]

sounds great
thanks