A7N8X De;uxe: RAID with ATA?

  • Thread starter Thread starter David
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D

David

I've just bought an identical hard-drive to the one I'm already using
(Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 8 40Gb ATA 133 7200rpm). The intention was to RAID
them and I took it for granted that it would be okay. However upon reading
the mobo manual it seems that only SATAs are supported in RAID.

Does anyone know if this is definite and if so is there a way round this
such as a RAID card? I know very little about these.

Thanks for your attention and any help, advice or suggestions you can give
me.

David
 
David said:
I've just bought an identical hard-drive to the one I'm already using
(Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 8 40Gb ATA 133 7200rpm). The intention was to
RAID
them and I took it for granted that it would be okay. However upon reading
the mobo manual it seems that only SATAs are supported in RAID.

Does anyone know if this is definite and if so is there a way round this
such as a RAID card? I know very little about these.

Thanks for your attention and any help, advice or suggestions you can give
me.
Click to expand...

The A7N8X-E has a RAID controller on the PATA drives. You o/s may support
software RAID. Any Linux distro or Windows server will have software RAID
0,1,5. Otherwise you'll probaby have to purchase a IDE RAID card or IDE to
SATA converters for your drives.
 
Hmm. David - FWIW, if you can return the PATA drive, I'd go that way. If
money is tight -- and you can only afford one drive right now -- then pick
up a SATA drive with the same capacity as the current PATA drive. That way
you can pick up an adapter (and adapt the PATA connector to SATA.) SATA is
definitely the 'next wave', and if you want to create a RAID array, then
you're 'way ahead with SATA anyway.

That said, if for some reason you can't return the new drive...or perhaps
this system is going to be replaced/upgraded within a year or so...then by
all means grab a PATA RAID card. Several companies make them, and 2-channel
cards are relatively inexpensive. Especially lately [with SATA gaining
popularity]. Make sure you get the 133-capable card.

Lastly, be aware that you will NOT be able to create a RAID0 (or 'striped')
array unless you format/re-install everything. You will probably be able to
add the new drive onto a RAID card if you are satisfied with a RAID1 (or
'mirrored') array.

HTH
Ron
 
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