On Fri, 12 Mar 1999, Josh Fishman wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> We're considering buying a RAID controller from DPT. The techie we
> spoke with there says they will be releasing a Linux driver on Monday
> for the V series (their new controllers). Does anyone here have
> experience with this driver? (beta test or what have you.)
>
> Are their drivers typically Open Source(R)? All I've heard about them
> in the past has been pretty good.
>
> Does anyone have a reason why we might hesitate in purchasing one
> of these controllers?
>
> Thank you,
> Josh Fishman
> NYU / RLab
>
I purchased one of the PM3334UW for a Netware server and was very unhappy
with it and DPT.
1) You have to use DPT Hot Swap bays or cabinets in order to be able to
autosync an array (i.e. put in a new drive and the rebuild starts by
itself)
2) The management piece for Netware was pathetic, it required a
DOS/Windows station to run (meaning no array functions from the server).
3) As far as I know, the linux driver is "unsupported" and does not
include a management piece, requiring one to boot DOS to rebuild the
array. One nice "feature" was that the once the array starts rebuilding,
it keeps going indepentant of the OS. I seem to remember there was work
being done on the management functions under linux, but it was still a
third party effort that was tolerated by DPT.
4) email conversations with DPT were not very responsive and generally
unimpressive.
I'd look at ICP/Vortex if I were you. Sounds like a lot of people are
happy with those cards.
Bill Carlson | Opinions expressed are my own
KINZE Manufacturing, Inc. | not my employer's.
