more than 2 disks in an Ultra 20??

[Arch Stanton]

I just bought an Ultra 20 with the plan of installing a pair of ZFS
mirrored disks in addition to the boot (system) disk. But I've just
realized the Ultra 20 has room for only 2 disks in the drive cage. Is
there an internal expansion cage available? Has anyone else solved this
problem another way? This is a very lightweight use, a home file server,
so I don't want to get into any kind of dedicated external hardware. If
I need to duct-tape the additional disk in I will, but would prefer
something cleaner.

Thanks,
Arch Stanton

[Trinean]

"Arch Stanton" <unk...@sad.hill> wrote in message
news:zuqdnfSY9d1_r3zV...@comcast.com...

Sorry to say this, but it sounds like an Ultra 40 would have been a better
choice for you.
The Ultra 40 can have 4 internal drives and the Ultra 40 M2 model can have
up to 8 internal drives.
I don't see any way of putting more than 2 drives internal to an Ultra 20 or
Ultra 20 M2.

If it's just space you need, then the Ultra 20 supports up to 2 750 GB SATA
drives.

Trinean

[Arch Stanton]

Trinean wrote:
> "Arch Stanton" <unk...@sad.hill> wrote in message
> news:zuqdnfSY9d1_r3zV...@comcast.com...
>> I just bought an Ultra 20 with the plan of installing a pair of ZFS
>> mirrored disks in addition to the boot (system) disk. But I've just
>> realized the Ultra 20 has room for only 2 disks in the drive cage. Is
>> there an internal expansion cage available? Has anyone else solved this
>> problem another way? This is a very lightweight use, a home file server,
>> so I don't want to get into any kind of dedicated external hardware. If
>> I need to duct-tape the additional disk in I will, but would prefer
>> something cleaner.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Arch Stanton
>
> Sorry to say this, but it sounds like an Ultra 40 would have been a better
> choice for you.

Hmm, well, given that this is a personal machine for which I'm spending
my own money, and I was able to get an Ultra 20 on eBay for $300 while
the cheapest Ultra 40 on eBay today is $2000, I'm not so sure an Ultra
40 would have been a better choice. Buying for the workplace, with their
money, you'd be right.

> I don't see any way of putting more than 2 drives internal to an Ultra 20 or
> Ultra 20 M2.

There's plenty of physical space. I'll come up with something.

> If it's just space you need, then the Ultra 20 supports up to 2 750 GB SATA
> drives.

No, I have an existing ZFS pool on two disks and want to move it to the
new machine. And I want to boot off a separate UFS disk.

Thanks,
Arch

[Benjamin Gawert]

* Arch Stanton:

As Trinean said Ultra 20 is for two internal hard drives only (even when
it supports more than 2x 750GB). Of course you can "hack" something but
this would not only affect disk cooling but very likely also invalidate
the system's warranty.

One solution could be eSATA. Get a eSATA hard drive case, get a cheap
eSATA controller that is supported by Solaris, and you should be set.

Benjamin

[jonsoons]

Do you really need a CD drive? I got rid of mine and fitted another
disk.
I also strapped in another disk in a similar box with zip ties (very
neat) when there was no way to put a cage in.
jon soons

[Michelle]

I've done the same in other sun boxes like the U10.

Also, added 4 "additional" drives in a sunblade 1500 just below the
existing two internal (had to add a sata controller card though).

Gives you LOTS of storage.

[Arch Stanton]

jonsoons wrote:
> Do you really need a CD drive? I got rid of mine and fitted another
> disk.

That's a good idea. I'd have to learn more about network installs but I
guess it wouldn't kill me to do so.

> I also strapped in another disk in a similar box with zip ties (very
> neat) when there was no way to put a cage in.

That's what I'll probably do. There's also some extra-stiff velcro-like
material which I think might do nicely.

I already have an additional sata controller so it's just a matter of
physical attachment, assuming the power supply is up to an extra disk.

The limitation is kind of surprising considering what a physically large
box the Ultra 20 is (nearly 8 inches wide). But it's a nice system
otherwise and I believe I'll be happy once I work this little thing out.

Thanks,
Arch Stanton

[LeRoy M. Dorman]

Michelle, which sata controller are you using in your sunblade 1500?
lmd

[Michelle]

One can actually google the post when I inquired about it (using search
string of "sunblade 1500 sata controller")

The person recommended a LSILogic SAS3041X-R. I think the letters after
SAS3041 indicates if its PCI or PCI-X, and I think I got the PCI-X
version but can verify when I get home.

I attached 4 x 500GB Sata drives to it (and raid 5'd it).

[LeRoy M. Dorman]

Thanks Michelle.
I looked at the LSI site's picture of the SAS3041X-R

http://www.lsi.com/files/docs/techdocs/storage_stand_prod/sas/lsisas3041xr_qig.pdf

and it shows key notches for a 3.3v slot. The open slots in my Sun
Blade 1500 Silver are all 5v slots. There is another 64-bit slot (the
top slot) which is a 3.3v slot but it is occupied by the frame
buffer/graphics card. I didn't pull the FB to look at the keys to make sure.
Are you using the top slot for your LSI?
The top slot in my machine is blue or green and the others are all beige.

If I took out the FB I dunno what I would use for graphics.

LeRoy

[Michelle]

I just verified that in fact I did remove the video card from the 3.3v
slot on the top and put in the Sata controller.

From checking the LSI site, this card only comes in PCI-E and PCI-X
which I think both are 3.3v slots? That may obviously limit your choices.

[LeRoy M. Dorman]

So I presume that the video card you removed was an upgrade to the MOBO
video so it is like hindering one body part to improve the performance
of the whole :-(. Tuff choice.
So I will pull the FB to test how much video performance I would lose.
Thanks for the benefit of your experience.
lmd