What are your thoughts about doing RAID5 with standard ATA/100/133 drives?

I have been trying to find an affordable way to add redudancy to my growing storage array(s).

Additionally, I would like to centralize it, and I have used Solaris extensively, but never in a RAID configuration (hardware or otherwise).

Based on the HCL, it states that there are only a few HBAs that are even supported by the system.

Originally, I thought that the SiI3114 would also be supported, but as it turns out, a) it doesn't detect the card, (despite the SiI3112 being listed on the HCL), and b) that it is software RAID even though there is a RAID5 option available on the card.

I had considered with ATA -> SATA adapters and then using a SATA RAID HBA; but the only one that is currently listed is the Adaptec 21610SA (~$650).

Is Solaris not a suitable platform for a low-cost/low-budget RAID5 storage server?

I've run many different RAID combinations on Solaris. It runs fine. Metas are pretty simple to work with. You can also use a hardware based solution - just make sure if you're running the x86 version your hardware is listed on the HCL.

Mark

What happens in the event of a hard drive failure with Metas?

Most of the hardware based solutions that are listed on the HCL do not qualify as being for "low budget" systems.