Single array across multiple controllers?

[NightOps]

I have 1 3Ware 9650SE-4LPML controller with 4 drives attached, 2TB drives in each, running RAID10. I'd like to increase the size of my arrray. Is it possible to get another 9650SE-4LPML controller and span the array across both controllers...or do I just need to suck it up and get an 8-port?

 

[mwroobel]

You have a SATA HW Raid controller, so no there is no way to expand the HW array on that card and you can't span across cards. Even if you are just using SATA drives, you will be best served for expandability getting a SAS HW Raid card, and you can use SAS expanders to increase your drive counts when you max out the initial lane count on your card. As you increase your drive counts, you should consider migrating to RAID6 which will give you more available storage than RAID10 based on the same number of drives (Greater than 4), and it will be able to survive ANY 2 drive failures in an array whereas with RAID10 you have to hope that the right 2 drives fail to maintain uptime.

 

[NightOps]

So would you suggest looking at the LSI 9690SA-8I ?