MacOS compatible RAID Controller

[littlegreen]

I have found myself in need of a RAID array and my macOS install is suffering as a result.

Let's just make this clear: I don't want to boot off of a RAID. I need one for storage.
In an ideal world I would have a RAID that all 3 of my OSes will read. (macOS, Windows, Ubuntu).

I have switched my motherboard from AHCI to RAID mode and created a RAID using the integrated Intel controller. Windows and Ubuntu seem to be OK with this and are (now) booting just fine.

However, macOS doesn't seem to be seeing eye to eye with RAID mode. So I guess my question here is:

Would it be enough to buy a controller card (Marvell anyone?) hoping I can configure it to AHCI mode, leaving the current RAID-mode connected devices in RAID so I can boot up macOS? Also, if this works (which I doubt a little bit) - would macOS be able to read my exFAT partition off the RAID-mode Intel controller?

If not - should I just bite the bullet and buy a PCI-E RAID controller and put my RAID drives there and call it a day?

RAID controller in mind: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/2-p...ci-e-v2-x1-to-sata-6gb-s-raid-controller-card

SATA controller in mind: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AZ9T3OU/?tag=tonymacx86-21

Has anyone tried this before?

Else, can Sierra boot off a single drive when the controller is set to RAID? Clover sees the boot disk, but gives me the forbidden sign half-way through the booting sequence.

Thanks,
littlegreen

 

[JCG730]

I have found myself in need of a RAID array and my macOS install is suffering as a result.

Let's just make this clear: I don't want to boot off of a RAID. I need one for storage.
In an ideal world I would have a RAID that all 3 of my OSes will read. (macOS, Windows, Ubuntu).

I have switched my motherboard from AHCI to RAID mode and created a RAID using the integrated Intel controller. Windows and Ubuntu seem to be OK with this and are (now) booting just fine.

However, macOS doesn't seem to be seeing eye to eye with RAID mode. So I guess my question here is:

Would it be enough to buy a controller card (Marvell anyone?) hoping I can configure it to AHCI mode, leaving the current RAID-mode connected devices in RAID so I can boot up macOS? Also, if this works (which I doubt a little bit) - would macOS be able to read my exFAT partition off the RAID-mode Intel controller?

If not - should I just bite the bullet and buy a PCI-E RAID controller and put my RAID drives there and call it a day?

RAID controller in mind: https://www.scan.co.uk/products/2-p...ci-e-v2-x1-to-sata-6gb-s-raid-controller-card

SATA controller in mind: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AZ9T3OU/?tag=tonymacx86-21

Has anyone tried this before?

Else, can Sierra boot off a single drive when the controller is set to RAID? Clover sees the boot disk, but gives me the forbidden sign half-way through the booting sequence.

Thanks,
littlegreen

I purchase an Areca RAID card on eBay for a reasonable price with internal and external ports. Good Mac drivers updated for High Sierra. I had it working very well on Sierra until I tried upgrading to HS. Now that Unibeast is here I don’t anticipate having problems getting it working again.

 

[littlegreen]

I purchase an Areca RAID card on eBay for a reasonable price with internal and external ports. Good Mac drivers updated for High Sierra. I had it working very well on Sierra until I tried upgrading to HS. Now that Unibeast is here I don’t anticipate having problems getting it working again.

Would you care to share a model for the card?

Also, can you describe the RAID behaviour? Is it visible from OSes outside of macOS? How do you setup the array - via OS or via BIOS? Or a third-party(manufacturer's) utility?

It's important to me to be able to mount it in both Windows and macOS (hence my leaning towards exFAT fs)

 

[JCG730]

Would you care to share a model for the card?

Also, can you describe the RAID behaviour? Is it visible from OSes outside of macOS? How do you setup the array - via OS or via BIOS? Or a third-party(manufacturer's) utility?

It's important to me to be able to mount it in both Windows and macOS (hence my leaning towards exFAT fs)

The card I purchased on eBay was the Areca ARC1880IXL-12. It has Windows, Linux, and Mac drivers all available from their website. There are several ways to setup the array--onboard Bios, Windows and Mac desktop utility, and also via the internal card web server, either from a local browser or over the network. So far it's worked great. Think this model is the oldest version that supports PCIe, the older versions are PCI-X. Newwer models will cost closer to $1,000 used, but the one I got was only $200. It supports SAS drives and SATA drives. Good luck!

I'll let you know when I have it working again and send some screenshots. Should be later this week.

-John

 

[littlegreen]

Thank you for the info!

That card falls heavily out of my budget though.

Has anyone tried booting off a different controller to see if the integrated controller in RAID mode is readable in OSX?
Or the other way around?

Or anything below $100 that works? I only need two ports for mechanical drives, so even SATA-2 will do. It definitely will not bottleneck the transfer.

EDIT: Just found this gem: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LSI-3war...199324&hash=item43f8fac3eb:g:WjgAAOSwXyVYJe3O

The Owner's manual says it is fully compatible with OSX - just trying to find out which versions it supports - and I might be ordering it.

I'll let you know how it goes!

happy hacking!
littlegreen

 

[littlegreen]

Well,

After all said and done I opted for this little thing here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZ9T264/?tag=tonymacx86-21

Sierra reads and writes to the RAID array just fine formatted in exFAT.
The controller is recognized as Marvell Raid Controller - OS sees one drive only, autmounts no problem.

All in all, considering the price of the board - I am very happy with the results!!!

Happy hacking!
littlegreen

 

[andwhy81]

Well,

After all said and done I opted for this little thing here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00AZ9T264/?tag=tonymacx86-21

Sierra reads and writes to the RAID array just fine formatted in exFAT.
The controller is recognized as Marvell Raid Controller - OS sees one drive only, autmounts no problem.

All in all, considering the price of the board - I am very happy with the results!!!

Happy hacking!
littlegreen

Any idea on one with a low profile mount option?

 

[littlegreen]

Any idea on one with a low profile mount option?

The one I linked above actually arrived with a low profile bracket included in the package.

Mind you, this is the UK-based amazon warehouse. If you're buying somewhere else it might be worth asking before ordering.

EDIT: Also, it's very important that the Marvell controller on the board is exactly 9230 and not 9235 or any other number. That's what I gather from my research online. Plus it works

Also, note that this is PCI-E x2 - so have a good look at what slots you have available on your mobo - I had to use my secondary x16 slot intended for CrossFire graphics. Kinda sits in front of one of the GPU fans, but not a major issue.

 

[deeveedee]

I'm currently using the card below (< $33 USD at Amazon) in non-RAID mode and it works fine in Mojave 10.14.6 (with AHCI_3rdParty_Sata.kext). I haven't tried a RAID configuration yet, but would love to hear anyone's experience with this card in a RAID configuration.

I/O Crest 4 Port SATA III PCI-e 2.0 x2 HyperDuo RAID Hard Drive Controller Card