Large files on Barracuda IV in RAID

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dominic Willems
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Dominic Willems

Have 3 Barracuda IV 40GB in RAID-0 using on-board HPT370 controller.

I know the Barracuda IV is the most horrible choice for a RAID-0 configuration, and I have
been offered the upgrade by Seagate, which I have not carried out yet.

In the mean time, I am experiencing system-freezes each time a large file is handled (I
estimate above 50MB). A simple copy will do. The HDD light stays on for about 8 seconds,
goes off for 1 or 2 seconds, then on again for about 8 seconds, eternally. Only a hard
reset will break the loop.

Is there anything one can do to stop this behaviour? I suspect the files are not damaged,
but the RAID controller chokes on them.

Any pointers greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dom
 
Have 3 Barracuda IV 40GB in RAID-0 using on-board HPT370 controller.

I know the Barracuda IV is the most horrible choice for a RAID-0 configuration, and I have
been offered the upgrade by Seagate, which I have not carried out yet.

In the mean time, I am experiencing system-freezes each time a large file is handled (I
estimate above 50MB). A simple copy will do. The HDD light stays on for about 8 seconds,
goes off for 1 or 2 seconds, then on again for about 8 seconds, eternally. Only a hard
reset will break the loop.

Is there anything one can do to stop this behaviour? I suspect the files are not damaged,
but the RAID controller chokes on them.

Any pointers greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Dom
Click to expand...

I sometimes have the same issue, but it's far less common, and I
didn't point any link with the handling of big files. Moreover i'm not
in Raid config, but i'm using Barracuda IV.
I suspect it's because of the hard drive controller (I'm using an
Highpoint HPT366), because the frequency of failure changes when I put
it on primary or on secondary. And with the standart IDE port I have
no problems.
The Highpoint HPT366 and 370 are famous for not being compatible with
all drive. Check if there is a bios update for you.

Nick
 
Nick said:
The Highpoint HPT366 and 370 are famous for not being compatible with
all drive. Check if there is a bios update for you.
Click to expand...

I know, I was so lucky to get the HPT370/Barracuda IV combination a week before all the
negative reports came out. Am running the latest 2.34 BIOS, sadly.

Many thanks,
DOm
 
I know, I was so lucky to get the HPT370/Barracuda IV combination a week before all the
negative reports came out. Am running the latest 2.34 BIOS, sadly.
Click to expand...

If you find a solution, I'm very interrested.
You can try to plug the drive with an ATA33 cable, but you loose a lot
in speed.

Nick
 
Nick said:
If you find a solution, I'm very interrested.
You can try to plug the drive with an ATA33 cable, but you loose a lot
in speed.

Nick
Click to expand...


Dominic

What chipset are you using, VIA by anychance?

If so Click the link and read this article

http://www.tecchannel.de/hardware/817/7.html

Had same probs with my A7V333-Raid (VIA chipset) with the promise RAID
controller.

Used the "Breese" patch and transfers improved.

Also, there used to be a BIOS update for the Barracuda IV on IBM's web site.
 
I'm not joking here's the link

http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=psg1MIGR-46086

Latest Barracuda IV Bios.
Click to expand...

Interesting. FWIW, a while back I was having trouble with an Adaptec
host adapter. While looking up a totally unrelated problem on the HP
site I found that they had a much, much newer BIOS than any on the
Adaptec site, that was intended to address an issue with one of their
tape drives. I tried it, and sure enough the problem I was experiencing
went away.

Not sure I understand why the product manufacturers don't make these
fixes available, but . . .
 
What chipset are you using, VIA by anychance?
Click to expand...

As said earlier, it's an HPT366, from HighPoint.
If so Click the link and read this article

http://www.tecchannel.de/hardware/817/7.html

Had same probs with my A7V333-Raid (VIA chipset) with the promise RAID
controller.

Used the "Breese" patch and transfers improved.

Also, there used to be a BIOS update for the Barracuda IV on IBM's web site.
Click to expand...

A patch for a seagate drive on IBM site ? Sound strange.

Nick
 
Nick said:
As said earlier, it's an HPT366, from HighPoint.
Click to expand...

He meant MoBo chipset, obviously.
A patch for a seagate drive on IBM site ? Sound strange.
Click to expand...

And you claim to be doing datarecovery?

So Nick/Charles, for how long now have you been doing that??
A month?
 
J.Clarke said:
Interesting. FWIW, a while back I was having trouble with an Adaptec
host adapter. While looking up a totally unrelated problem on the HP
site I found that they had a much, much newer BIOS than any on the
Adaptec site, that was intended to address an issue with one of their
tape drives. I tried it, and sure enough the problem I was experiencing
went away.

Not sure I understand why the product manufacturers don't make these
fixes available, but . . .
Click to expand...

They do.
And then they retract them for no apparent reason other than sheer stupidity.
 
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