Test Setup

I'll be testing the RocketRAID 3510 on the server on which I tested the RR3120, which specifications can be found below. Components in the server were carefully picked for optimal Linux compatibility as well as performance. The host hard drive is connected to the motherboard, but I'll be utilizing the RocketRAID 3510 and a RAMdisk for this review.

Also in this review, I'll be utilizing the x86_64 edition of CentOS-5.2 (or Community ENTerprise Operating System) for my Linux environment. CentOS offers an RPM-based package management system, which fits in perfectly for installation of HighPoint's WebGUI RAID management software. HighPoint's GPL-licensed driver for the 3x-series has been embedded in Linux kernel 2.6.25 and newer, which CentOS currently employs. Ubuntu 8.04.1 is using kernel 2.6.24, and does not have the 3x-series driver.

Hardware Installation

The ASRock 4Core1333-Viiv I employ doesn't have a PCI-Express x8 slot, so I inserted the card in one of the free x16 slots.

After the card was secured with a screw, I ran the mini-SAS cable from the card to the four drives. That completes the physical installation of the card.

Unlike Gentoo Linux 2008.0, CentOS-5.2 supported the RocketRAID 3510 out of the box. From the installation CD, I was able to install CentOS-5.2 directly on to my newly-created RAID 5 array. However, I realized I'd need to be able to change the array on the fly for benchmarks, I installed CentOS on my spare 160GB hard drive.

In CentOS, the RAID array was configured to mount at /mnt/raid.