[SunHELP] Disk Layout Issues...

[Michael Vang]

I'm assuming that having 2 disks versus 1 is better for a server
layout...

Would having / on disk 1 and /export/home on disk 2 be best?

Or is there another layout, possibly with SDS, that is better...

I figure using 2 swap slices is a good idea, too...

I have the opportunity to purchase either 1 80GB disk or 2 40GB disks
for my U5...

I've already purchased the bracket for the 2nd disk, so I am leaning
towards the 2 disk approach...

I looked into mirroring, but it looks like a hack on the U5...

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When using Solstice DiskSuite 4.1 software, it is recommended that you
have a minimum of three metadevice databases to maintain a "quorum." It
is further recommended that the databases be maintained on different
disks, which would require three IDE hard drives in the system. Because
the Ultra 5 system can support only two hard drives, only two metadevice
databases are possible. This limitation has a known impact.

Solstice DiskSuite software will function with only two disks and two
database replicas. However, if one disk fails, there is not a quorum. No
problem with the system will be seen until after the system is powered
down. After the system is powered down, it will not power on and boot in
multiuser mode without system administration intervention.

For example, if the quorum is not seen during boot due to a hard drive
failure, the system boots in single-user mode. The problem is reported
by the system when the machine is rebooted. The output is similar to the
following example:
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I'm worried too about the CMD PCIO646 IDE chip on the U5...

http://www.cmd.com/ApplicationNotes/0646UDesignTips.pdf

Apparently there are issues with DMA operation when both channels are
active...

Any thoughts?

Anyone have a U5 with 2 disks? How does it perform?

This is for my new project: http://www.teamprimerib.com/freeshell.html

Thanks!