Could be.... Dodgy SSD maybe?
I got a weird issue come up, basically cloned the OSX using Carbon copy on to the Mercury 6G 240GB SSD that's running is pass through mode off the Areca 1880-ix-12 and it works fine and I have now removed the original 1TB HD that came with the Mac Pro. However after installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit on the 2nd SSD (same type) running off the onboard ICH/SATA2 , it installed fine and I can boot into Windows 7 by holding option key etc. But for some odd reason when I go to my computer the (C:\) shows an absurd 64GB of the 233GB available as used! When I browse C: and highlight all folders etc. they take up only 11.4GB as they should, but looking at the drive properties it states that 64GB is used up! Dodgy SSD maybe?
How much memory do you have? The hidden file hiberfil.sys is used for hibernation and is equal in size to total memory. Also the default swapfile (hidden file pagefile.sys) size may be quite large and can be manually changed to a smaller size.
Could be.
But check to see if the drive has any partitions on it, including if they're hidden (just to see if it's been allocated without your knowledge, and it's easy to do).
IF it's damaged, OWC will take care of it for you (they are good with returns and warranty support from those that have had to use it from what I've read).
32GB RAM, I think you may be onto something.
I am thinking for a workstation of this grade I should turn off hibernation altogether. The swap file shouldn't
be the culprit as it was a fresh Windows install and I wasn't using the PC or does it also retain some permanent size ?
Windows will allocate disk space for a swap file whether you need it or not. The default size tends to be large and is based on total RAM.
Could be.
But check to see if the drive has any partitions on it, including if they're hidden (just to see if it's been allocated without your knowledge, and it's easy to do).
IF it's damaged, OWC will take care of it for you (they are good with returns and warranty support from those that have had to use it from what I've read).
I should think it possible to write a script file that unmounts this particular drive when running OS X (automatically executes the unmount function). Here's a resource from Apple (Introduction/How_To for Open Source Scripting).Is there anyway to make OSX not initialize etc. the other SSD with Windows on it which is connected to the ICH onboard SATA2.
What browser are you running ARCHTTP in?I am asking because when I use the Areca McRaid manager in-browser for some odd reason when it's running and only when it's running the SSD connected to the SATA2 onboard will stop responding and I get prompted with a message not to forget to eject any drives before removing them etc.
Presuming you're like other users and have large files, go with a large stripe size (i.e. largest the card allows; typically 128K, but some do allow for higher).Also I am setting up RAID5 now, any recommendations for Stripe block size or other options that would benefit a video editing machine that will use Final Cut Pro X ?
I should think it possible to write a script file that unmounts this particular drive when running OS X (automatically executes the unmount function). Here's a resource from Apple (Introduction/How_To for Open Source Scripting).
What browser are you running ARCHTTP in?
I ask, as it tends not to do well in Safari. Firefox has been known to work properly for some time, so that's the one I tend to recommend (tad under 30MB IIRC to download).
Presuming you're like other users and have large files, go with a large stripe size (i.e. largest the card allows; typically 128K, but some do allow for higher).
Random access performance OTOH, benefits from smaller stripes (keeps data on as many disks as possible for parallelism reasons; otherwise, the data is one one to a few disks with larger stripe sizes due to the remaining members having empty stripes = fewer members providing data = reduced performance).
Hope this helps. 🙂
What kind of disks are you using (Green, 7200rpm, ...)?Just did a quick create for a RAID 5 Set/Volume with 64-bit LBA and 128Kb stripe size but the damn initialization is looking to take up to 48 hours or more for 4 x 3TB Hitachi 6g/ 9000GB array ! Is this normal ?
Yes.With foreground initialization, can I shut down the machine and the process will continue next time I power it on?
What kind of disks are you using (Green, 7200rpm, ...)?
I ask, as I would expect it to be faster than that with 7200 rpm or faster disks (no data to preserve, unlike Online Expansion <= adding disks to an existing array> or Online Migration <= changing the level of an array>).
Typically, I've been able to do an avg. of 1TB per hour on Areca cards for 8x 7200 rpm disks. Granted, you're only using half the member count, but I'd still think 24 hours or so should be all that's necessary (should be a tad faster, as 3TB disks have higher density platters than what I'm using as a metric <1 & 2TB disks>, unless you're using Green drives which will slow you down). It is a different controller though, so that could be the issue (would expect it to be the same or faster though, as the 1880 series are the fastest cards to date from Areca).
BTW, could you tell me the firmware revision (needs to be 1.49 at a bare minimum, to support 3TB disks)?
Yes.
But at the time frame given, you'd be best to leave it on to finish what it's doing (don't need to sit there with it, as it will continue to initialize until complete without any interaction required).
1.49 is the latest firmware available, and does offer support for 3TB disks. So you're fine in this regard. I presume disks too (on the assumption the exact disk model is listed on the HDD Compatibility List).Firmware's v1.49 2010-12-10, maybe worth updating to newer one if available?
Drives are enterprise grade Hitachi 6G 7200rpm
Woke up this morning, 19.4% after 11 hours Yikes! So I am looking at approx 55 hours.
1.49 is the latest firmware available, and does offer support for 3TB disks. So you're fine in this regard. I presume disks too (on the assumption the exact disk model is listed on the HDD Compatibility List).
55 hrs or so sucks, but it's just slow apparently. 🙁 Leave it be, and let it complete the initialization.
I went back and checked the HDD Compatibility List, and the 3TB Hitachi's aren't tested yet; they're listed as "Scheduled", so they could be the reason the card is taking so long, and more importantly, they may not be stable (i.e. will need to have the firmware updated in order to work properly on Areca's cards, and that's between Areca and Hitachi to work out). Unfortunately, any users that went ahead and purchased them before this is done, is left hanging until they get it sorted. Or send the disks back, and get others that are already on the list and Passed.
Well, at least you've got the enterprise versions, so they will have different recovery timings than the consumer versions.
If they'll make it available to you, Yes.if I stick these into a PC
could I flash the Hitachi 3TB UltraStar if a firmware update is required to work properly with the Areca 1880 series?
The ARCHTTP will show you the drive's firmware revisions (look in the section that shows the details for each drive).What are some apps that will tell me the firmware of my Hitachi drives, does Areca storage manager report this (MKAOA 580?)? Also is there any recommended i/o tests that I can run to test my Raid-5 array after the volume finishes initializing ?
Well, at least you've got the enterprise versions, so they will have different recovery timings than the consumer versions.
But you are taking a gamble here, even though it is an enterprise version (seen firmware updates from disk makers taking months). For example, the thread you linked is from March, and the enterprise versions still aren't on the list, and we're already in July.
If they'll make it available to you, Yes.
The ARCHTTP will show you the drive's firmware revisions (look in the section that shows the details for each drive).
As per tests, you can loop disk testing software (such as AJA under OS X - may need to write a script to do this). Or you may be able to use software under Windows if you've a copy installed on your system (some will allow you to do this; take a look at HDTune, HDDScan for example, and others as well <not sure what limitations may exist in the Trial versions>).
Another way to do it, is test with dummy data and the applications you intend to use (i.e. set up a large batch).
For this particular intention, all you need is something that will run the disks for an extended period of time (heads must be moving, and performing both reads and writes in order to evaluate both - you don't want to be in a situation where the reads are fine, but the writes unknown), and see if any of the members drop out of the set.
Good luck. 🙂
😎 Glad you got it up and running. 🙂Ok, so it finished. I got a 9TB RAID5 volume.
Used OSX disk utility to create a two partition layout. 1st (4.5TB HFS journaled), 2nd (4.5TB Free Space)
Booted into Windows and formatted the feespace under NTFS file system (cluster size 32KB)
Things seems to copy to and from fine. HD tune error,random read, benchmark tests pass. However I can't do any write tests it tell I need to delete partitions or some crap.
Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there is a fix (assumes that all of the necessary drivers and software are installed from the OEM Install Disks that came with the system).One problem that I did notice is that when I try to access the HFS drive in windows through my computer as it shows up there the system BSOD's
In OSX however I can access both the NTFS and HFS partition fine. I can of course only read and copy files from the NTFS when in OSX.
However when in Windows and trying to access the HFS partition it BSOD's big time. I do not think I need this anywhere, is there anyway to not mount the HFS volume when Windows boots up or perhaps you have an idea of what's causing these crashes and I can perhaps fix it up ?
😎 Glad you got it up and running. 🙂
As per write testing, it wipes out any existing data, so you usually do this before you put any real data on the arrays. It's also a good idea to test out how the card will respond during failure conditions at this time for the same reason (i.e. pull a disk out while it's up and running, unplug the UPS, ... sorts of things). This way, if something does go wrong (particularly user error), you're not screwed in terms of critical data.
The primary reason for this type of testing, is so when you do run into a real failure, you'll understand what the card is doing, and what you need to do (don't make any errors that destroy whatever data may still exist). I can't stress how critical this really is, as I've seen user error wipe out arrays in degraded mode because they didn't know what they were doing. Hence make errors when it's not a problem (before you trust critical data to a card).
You can still do all of this, but you need to make sure you've a current backup first, then restore everything (will include any OS that resides on the array if you've done this). If you do have an OS on the array, make a clone if at all possible, as it's much faster to restore than going though the install disks and updates, ..., then restore the actual data (sucks when you have to do it this way). I can't praise the benefits of OS/applications disk clones enough. 😀
Unfortunately, I'm not sure if there is a fix (assumes that all of the necessary drivers and software are installed from the OEM Install Disks that came with the system).
Other applications that are designed to allow for cross platform access of non-native file systems (i.e. Macdrive) have had problems too.
The only simple thing I can think of, is make sure you've installed all of the drivers off of the Installation disks (file = setup.exe), then test. If it's OK, then try updating Windows, and re-test (make sure it's not an update that's breaking things).
On this note, you might want to see if Apple has a newer BootCamp package available (newer drivers/software for Windows). Just run the SETUP.EXE file however, not the BC partition utility (making this mistake will cause more hell than you could image = busted array = START OVER 😱 🙁).
The message is just a reminder that data loss is possible.But I don't have any data on the array just two empty partitions formatted under two different file systems or does HD Tune consider this data already? So I can only test out the write with absolutely nothing on the RAID volume, just 9TB of freespace ?
I use Acronis myself, but I've never attempted to use it on a MP. So I don't know how it will actually work under Apple's EFI implementation, as it deals with low level access of HDD's, which historically, hasn't gone well with PC based utilities on Macs (i.e. HDD tools offered by the disk's manufacturer = will not work in a MP).With the disk cloning software I am probably going to use Acronis TrueImage, is it the same as on a PC, that is if main OS drive plays up then I boot an image restore utility off a cd/USB and it will restore the image onto any HDD? What about those hidden restore partitions that I can access before OS boots and enter image restore utility, are they worth bothering with?
The message is just a reminder that data loss is possible.
So you can do write testing. 😀
I use Acronis myself, but I've never attempted to use it on a MP. So I don't know how it will actually work under Apple's EFI implementation, as it deals with low level access of HDD's, which historically, hasn't gone well with PC based utilities on Macs (i.e. HDD tools offered by the disk's manufacturer = will not work in a MP).
Nor does Acronis work with OS X at all (just Windows and Linux).
Worth testing though if you can, as it's a great application. If it works (and I understand what you mean by hidden partitions correctly), leave the hidden partitions alone, as that's stuff you need (i.e. hidden partitions in the array = parity data and/or GPT partitions).
I see, so what's the more popular Disk cloning/restore suites for the Mac? Time Machine is similar to system restore in Windows, as in it does not actually make 1:1 image backups that can be restored ?
Yes, Time Machine is like Windows System Restore (doesn't do a bootable 1:1 clone).
- Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC)
- SuperDuper
Acronis's standard backup scheme is also compressed backup files (.tib = True Image Backup). But at least on a PC, it will do clones (via the boot/recovery disk you need to burn). You'd have to test to see if this works on a MP though.
😎 NP. 🙂Thanks, will try these.
I suspect it's just half-baked, not intentional (hurried the development and didn't work out the bugs before it was released to the public). Their focus is clearly directed at consumer products, the device segment in particular.It seems almost intentional to me how ****** and unstable the drivers are that included with bootcamp for Windows in order to support mounting HFS volume and vice versa the problems that occur with NTFS volumes in MacOSX.
Must you be able to access Windows files while in OS X and vice versa?In Windows accessing the HFS volume will BSOD the machine. So I disabled the drivers\system files and it's no longer mounted.
In MacOSX, after a certain period of time it tells me that I didn't eject or properly remove a drive (being the SSD with Windows connected to the onboard SATA2) and this will hang app finer and most of OSX, even shutdown does not go through. Strangely OSX does not conflict with the 4.5TB NTFS partition that's also mounted.
😎 NP. 🙂
A number of other members use these, and swear by it. So one of them should be to your liking.
I suspect it's just half-baked, not intentional (hurried the development and didn't work out the bugs before it was released to the public). Their focus is clearly directed at consumer products, the device segment in particular.
Must you be able to access Windows files while in OS X and vice versa?
If not, it might be in your best interest to skip this altogether (far less aggravation), as other applications that are designed to do this are having issues as well last I heard.
If you must have a file system that allows cross platform access however, FAT32 might be a better alternative (not sure if the limitations will affect you or not; see below), as both OS's can access this natively. Less headache potential anyway. 😉
FAT32 limits:
- max file size = 4GB
- max volume size = 2TB, 8TB volume @ 32K cluster, 16TB @ 64K cluster (this cluster size isn't well supported)
Lion has issues with storage, RAID in particular. So I'd recommend waiting a bit, and let them get the kinks ironed out (wait at least one more update, but 10.7.3 would be safer IMO).I am wishing to upgrade to Mac OSX Lion now, are there any new bugs or something I should know about? Can Lion setup detect and install on my SSD which is in pass through mode connected to the Areca 1880-ix-12 ? I presume I can still only boot of a single volume/drive from the Areca controller as this limitation is imposed by EFI and not the OS.
Given what you're trying to do (OS/applications disk on the Areca), Yes.I prolly need to do it the good 'ol way. That is unplug my miniSAS 4i cables (RAID5) from the controller and install back the 1TB HDD the system initially came with and then update it to Lion, install all new Areca Lion drivers and only then connect back the miniSAS 4i cables and use carbon copy to clone the Lion OS onto the SSD that is in pass through ?
As per it being included in the main firmware (currently v. 1.49), No it doesn't include the EFI (EBC actually) portion that's used to replace BOOT.BIN in order to boot in your MP.Also I am unable to find the EFI firmware on the Areca site, is the EFI image included in that one zip file they have for download ?