Apple Event: May 7th at 7 am PT
I need to install 4 new 4TB hard drives in a mid-2010 Mac Pro equipped with the Apple RAID card. The computer originally had Server 10.6.8, but I don't need it to run server software. I would like to install Yosemite and set it up with RAID 5, but I've never setup a RAID before. Do I setup the RAID using Disk Utility prior to installing the OS? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Mac Pro, OS X Server
When using the Apple RAID card, your RAID is established and maintained with RAID Utility (should be in the Utilities folder).
PROBLEM: Apple RAID card is old technology that does not support drives over 2.2TB per Drive.
Putting your Boot Drive on a RAID is a Bad Idea. Best Practice is to have a separate Boot Drive, that is NOT part of the RAID.
For such a Boot Drive, you could uses a "regular" SATA drive or SSD in an Optical Drive bay, or the fastest way is to get a PCIe SSD and a PCIe carrier card (not much logic, just an adapter-socket) that goes in a PCIe slot.
Remember that RAID is Not Backup. You still need Backup Drive(s), to cover problems other than Drive failure such as crazy software, human error such as accidental deletion, and "just because". If Drive SIZE is an issue, you can easily create a Concatenated Drive set with Disk Utility to give you a simple really Big Volume on which to Back up.
When using the Apple RAID card, your RAID is established and maintained with RAID Utility (should be in the Utilities folder).
PROBLEM: Apple RAID card is old technology that does not support drives over 2.2TB per Drive.
Putting your Boot Drive on a RAID is a Bad Idea. Best Practice is to have a separate Boot Drive, that is NOT part of the RAID.
For such a Boot Drive, you could uses a "regular" SATA drive or SSD in an Optical Drive bay, or the fastest way is to get a PCIe SSD and a PCIe carrier card (not much logic, just an adapter-socket) that goes in a PCIe slot.
Remember that RAID is Not Backup. You still need Backup Drive(s), to cover problems other than Drive failure such as crazy software, human error such as accidental deletion, and "just because". If Drive SIZE is an issue, you can easily create a Concatenated Drive set with Disk Utility to give you a simple really Big Volume on which to Back up.
Why now? Generally bad idea. http://www.SoftRAID.com supports more features and 3-drive mirror might be better. Use a Samsung OCIE-SSD SM951 instead for the system and CCC to maintain bootable n.a. kups.
I did not realize that the Apple RAID card had a drive size limit. I'm planning on purchasing an adapter for the optical drive bay in order to install another hard drive for the OS. I guess I'll have to consider SoftRAID as recommended by The hatter.
When you ask "Why now?", I'm not sure what you're referring to. I will definitely look into SoftRAID, as you suggested. I'm trying to maximize the storage on the computer, while still safeguarding against hard drive failure. That's why I wanted to configure with RAID 5. I am going to add another hard drive in the optical drive bay and load the OS on that drive. If I understand correctly, that will leave one drive for parity and the remaining three drives for storage.
Clone - multiple sets.
You likely don't need or even really want RAID5. And esp seeing you'd be a first timer.
As said, a 3-drive mirror would be more than enough for a hard drive failure.
RAID6 is hardware RAID only but used for large and vital client or business data.
System? want 24/7? still better off with clone and using SSD PCIe.
Why after all these years and didn't use the limited features of Apple Pro RAID with its limitations and over priced.
still better off with clone and using SSD PCIe.
You are the expert here on the SSD-on-PCIe card setups.
What are the SSD "stick" form factor drives to look at, and what cards to put them on?
What looks good but is not so good, and will trip up a casual user, and needs to be avoided?
Need help setting up RAID 5 and installing OS X 10.10.3
