SMART on Raid

[DonLogan]

Is it true that you can't get SMART info from the ICH7 connected
drives?
tua

 

[Rod Speed]

Is it true that you can't get SMART info from the ICH7 connected drives?

Yep, and you cant with any other RAID either.

 

[Curious George]

Yep, and you cant with any other RAID either.

Still making stuff up I see.

 

[Rod Speed]

puerile shit thats always pouring from the back of it.

 

[Arno Wagner]

On Thu, 5 Oct 2006 13:09:14 +1000, "Rod Speed"

Still making stuff up I see.

Obviously. You can get ist with any software RAID. You can also get
it with some better RAID controllers, e.g. for 3ware under Linux.
But for example Adaptec SATA RAID does not give you SMART.

For ICH7 you don't get it under Linux. Don't know about Windows.

Arno

 

[Curious George]

Obviously. You can get ist with any software RAID. You can also get
it with some better RAID controllers, e.g. for 3ware under Linux.

Indeed Software and some 3ware. Also Areca comes to mind.

But for example Adaptec SATA RAID does not give you SMART.

AFAIK yes. IIRC that also includes ICP vortex (now Adaptec)

For ICH7 you don't get it under Linux. Don't know about Windows.

If you don't have it, it's just a matter of time as the capability is
there, at least for the ICH7R, ICH7DH, & ICH7-M DH & Intel Matrix
Storage Technology. AFAIK the plain ICH7 doesn't do pre-OS RAID.
http://www.intel.com/design/chipsets/datashts/307013.htm

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Indeed Software

Not if it is the driver that does the RAIDing and that driver doesn't
support S.M.A.R.T. Whether that's a different (ie RAID) device
driver or a pre-processing driver that calls the standard drivers.

There is no difference there with Firmware or Hardware RAID,
all use drivers of some sort to do the RAIDing.

If the standard drivers don't support S.M.A.R.T. then neither will
your software RAID.

and some 3ware. Also Areca comes to mind.


AFAIK yes. IIRC that also includes ICP vortex (now Adaptec)


If you don't have it, it's just a matter of time as the capability is
there, at least for the ICH7R, ICH7DH, & ICH7-M DH & Intel Matrix
Storage Technology.

It's not the hardware, it's the driver.

 

[Curious George]

Not if it is the driver that does the RAIDing and that driver doesn't
support S.M.A.R.T. Whether that's a different (ie RAID) device
driver or a pre-processing driver that calls the standard drivers.

Key word *"if"*

That does not impeach the observation that there is commonplace
os-level raid software that permits smart reading that actually
exists.

There is no difference there with Firmware or Hardware RAID,
all use drivers of some sort to do the RAIDing.

That is only true for host-based software-assisted hardware.

If the standard drivers don't support S.M.A.R.T. then neither will
your software RAID.


It's not the hardware, it's the driver.

No it's both. Hardware and drivers are interdependent. But you
misread me. The point is smart support exists via Intel Matrix
Storage Technology, and Intel certainly isn't hiding that fact. That
has real potential to affect OEMs and other third-party support IMHO.

But lets stay focused. The discussion is about whether NO kind or
RAID, including ICH7, supports SMART. Fact is it's there. It just
isn't universal for EVERY product.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Key word *"if"*
That does not impeach the observation that there is commonplace
os-level raid software that permits smart reading that actually exists.

Sure. However the suggestion was made that it was specific hardware
that allowed it or disallowed it. It's actually the drivers that do that.

That is only true for host-based software-assisted hardware.

There you go again. What's in heaven's name is that?

Nope. The difference might be that hardware assisted controllers may only
use RAID-only drivers (and have their own specific PCI-ID, different from
the chipset that they are based on) where there may be a choice for software
assisted (firmware RAID) RAID controllers, one for a standard controller
-which a FW RAID controller basically is- and one for the RAID function.
Whether that is so depends mainly on the vendor deciding what driver works
on what controller ID(s) or on the PCI ID of the controller being same
(early Promise) or different (later Promise), or any combination of the 2.

No it's both.
Nope.

Hardware and drivers are interdependent.

Which is besides the point
It is the driver offering the interface hooks to the S.M.A.R.T. driver.
Not the hardware.

But you misread me. The point is smart support exists via

Intel Matrix Storage Technology,

Whatever that is supposed to explain (and no, that is not meant as a snear).

and Intel certainly isn't hiding that fact.

That has real potential to affect OEMs and other third-party support IMHO.

If that means that SMART utes have to maintain yet another interface you may
be right. They may ignore it completely.

 

[Curious George]

Sure. However the suggestion was made that it was specific hardware
that allowed it or disallowed it. It's actually the drivers that do that.

Sure. But at the end of the day each hardware product is essentially
a package of hardware, software, and support. And this thread is
about revealing specific *packages* that may or may not be SMART
compliant in actual use or manufacturer promise.

There you go again. What's in heaven's name is that?

You should brush up then:
http://www.intel.com/design/storage/papers/30094601.pdf
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/power/en/ps2q03_luse?c=us&l=en&s=corp
etc.

Nope. The difference might be that hardware assisted controllers may only
use RAID-only drivers (and have their own specific PCI-ID, different from
the chipset that they are based on) where there may be a choice for software
assisted (firmware RAID) RAID controllers, one for a standard controller
-which a FW RAID controller basically is- and one for the RAID function.
Whether that is so depends mainly on the vendor deciding what driver works
on what controller ID(s) or on the PCI ID of the controller being same
(early Promise) or different (later Promise), or any combination of the 2.

Expand you mind beyond Promise and the like. *Both* host-based and
host-independent raid hardware exist.

Which is besides the point
It is the driver offering the interface hooks to the S.M.A.R.T. driver.
Not the hardware.

And if the driver with that capabilities, or the necessary information
for a third party to do that is obscured, then you are SOL. When you
buy hardware you buy a *package* of hardware, software, and support.

Whatever that is supposed to explain (and no, that is not meant as a snear).

It explains that SMART is readily available on that chipset via their
software i.e. it is *not* unavailable, as Rod claimed.