[dba-Tech] Re: RAID definitions etc

The array will be useless but what you will have is two mirror images of the
same hard drive. An external RAID card buys nothing when major hardware
changes are involved. And unless you use the same main board with the
possible exception of a rev level change the system probably wont boot no
matter what you use, backups, raid, ghosting, etc. At least thats been my
experience. I build a new system for myself about every 18 months to 2 years
and with that type of change, a reinstall is unavoidable. And yes, it
probably takes more like three days, because I'm loading Acrobat Writer,
Office 97 - XP, SQL Server 2000, MySQL, Cache, Visio, GIMP, Crystal Reports,
Web Matrix, Map Point, Data Junction, CodeCharge Studio 2.2, FrontPage, Win
2k with all the service packs, Visual Studio, Remote Admin, all the IIS
stuff and virtual directories, PC-Cillin, and all the other nameless
utilities plus all the CDs and drivers copied to the hard drive. I generaly
spread that out over more like a week, because I keep using the old system
while configuring a new one. I also like to keep an old system as a warm
spare just in case everything gets fried. I've been in systems since 1969
and seen quite a few messes, and like a belt, suspenders, and a rope tied
around the belt just in case. I also loved lots of cooling fans which are
extremely noisy until I purchased an Antec Sonata case which is extremely
quiet and keeps everything nice and cool. Maybe I've been just lucky with
PC's because no hardware failures other than a few SCSI drives dying have
ever reared their ugly heads on me except one new ThinkPad that was DOA out
of the box. IBM sent me another so I have no idea what was wrong with it.

Most of the systems that I maintain don't carry quite as much software as my
personal system, and could be rebuilt in a day or under.

j





-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of John W. Colby
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 6:58 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Re: RAID definitions etc


Jim,

I read something that I can't dispute nor confirm, which is that if the
MOTHERBOARD fails, the raid array will be useless without getting the same
exact board (or at least chipset?).  I have never had a motherboard fail,
however I do upgrade the motherboard regularly - every few years.  This
article said that with an external raid controller, you just move the
controller to the new system.

As for losing a day... we're talking several.  Windows 2k with all the
service packs and various other updates, Windows 97/2k/XP with all the
various service packs, Norton AV, Yahoo and other chats, my email, VNC,
Dreamweaver, Powerchute, Drivecrypt, Winzip, Roxio, Adaware and Spybot,
Visual Studio.net, all my camera and video camera programs... and a dozen
others that I don't even know I had till I go to use them...

This is the LAST time I do this for anything less than a motherboard change.
The issue of a motherboard change is one of the real issues with Windows.
The motherboard drivers and stuff are mixed in with the programs (in the
registry at least) making the odds very bad of getting your old Windows /
program disk running on a new motherboard.  The PROGRAMS should run on the
new computer, but they are part and parcel of the windows install which
includes very specific drivers for the hardware.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com

-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of JMoss
Sent: Saturday, May 15, 2004 5:57 PM
To: Discussion of Hardware and Software issues
Subject: RE: [dba-Tech] Re: RAID definitions etc


I don't build a lot of servers or workstations, but almost everything that I
sell has RAID on board, it's just too cheap an insurance policy not to
utilize, and so easy to recover in case a drive fails. You can easily lose a
day if the sole hard driver craps out, with RAID you're down maybe 10 - 15
minutes, then add another hour when rebuilding the array. It makes a lot of
sense especially when considering that all of the drive manufacturers have
dropped their warranty from three years to one year. The steep warranty
period decrease speaks loudly to me.

Jim



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