[OpenIndiana-discuss] PCI/PCI-Ex SATA controller

[Sašo Kiselkov]

On 08/11/2012 11:33 PM, Bryan Iotti wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> I'm looking for a SATA controller card for my HP xw8200, since the internal
> SATA ports don't pass SMART with the pci-ide driver...

Hi,

Have you tried switching your controller over into AHCI mode? If you
already have OI installed, this will prevent your machine from booting,
but this can be easily fixed. Simply boot the install CD/USB, and
forcibly import and export your rpool - that should fix all device
pointers on the vdevs and make the pool importable in the normal OS.

> Now, at the present moment I have 2x 2TB drives, in the future I'd like to
> add more, even externally if possible. I will always use ZFS and not HW
> RAID.

> What cards should I be looking for in order not to spend a fortune? LSI
> MegaRAID 8408E?

If you need to avoid hardware raid and wish to save money, then by all
means don't go for any MegaRAID card - these are non-JBOD pure hardware
RAID cards. My personal suggestion would be to go with something like an
LSI SAS 9211-8i or one of the OEM-branded variations which can be had
for around $100 brand spanking new. Look for something like the Dell
PERC H200. That's basically a rebranded 9211-8i with full JBOD support
out of the box. Never had an issue with it.

In case you need external ports, you can always just get an
internal-to-external mini-SAS backplate with cables (see for instance
http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sas_cables_adapters/AD8788-1.asp ). If you
want to go all-external, then simply go for a straight external-only HBA
(e.g.
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pvaul/en/dell-6gbps-sas-ita-spec-sheet.pdf
- that's just a rebranded LSI SAS 9200-8e).

Cheers,
--
Saso