Request for feedback on hardware for a new database server - Mailing list pgsql-performance

Hello,

At MusicBrainz we're looking to get a new database server, and are
hoping to buy this in the next couple of days. I'm mostly a software
guy, but I'm posting this on behalf of Rob, who's actually going to be
buying the hardware. Here's a quote of what we're looking to get:

    I'm working to spec out a bad-ass 1U database server with loads of
    cores (12), RAM (24GB) and drives (4 SAS) in a hardware RAID-1,0
    configuration:

    1 * SuperMicro 2016R-URF, 1U, redundant power supply, 4 SATA/SAS
    drive bays 2
    2 * Intel Xeon X5650 Westmere 2.66GHz 12MB L3 Cache LGA 1366 95W
    Six-Core Server Processor 2
    2 * Crucial 24GB (3 x 4GB) DDR3 SDRAM ECC Registered DDR3 1333,
    CT3KIT51272BV1339 1
    1 * LSI MegaRAID SATA/SAS 9260-4i ($379) (linux support [1])
    or
    1 * HighPoint RocketRAID 4320 PCI-Express x8 ($429)
    or
    1 * Adaptec RAID 3405 controller ($354)
    4 * Fujitsu MBA3147RC 147GB 15000 RPM

    SuperMicro machines have treated us really well over time (better
    than Dell or Sun boxes), so I am really happy to throw more money in
    their direction.  Redundant power supplies seem like a good idea for
    a database server.

    For $400 more we can get hexa core processors as opposed to quad
    core processors at 2.66Ghz. This seems like a really good deal --
    any thoughts on this?

    Crucial memory has also served us really well, so that is a
    no-brainer.

    The RAID controller cards are where I need to most feedback! Of the
    LSI, Highpoint or Adaptec cards, which one is likely to have native
    linux support that does not require custom drivers to be installed?
    The LSI card has great specs at a great price point with Linux
    support, but installing the custom driver sounds like a pain. Does
    anyone have any experience with these cards?

    We've opted to not go for SSD drives in the server just yet -- it
    doesn't seem clear how well SSDs do in a driver environment.

    That's it -- anyone have any feedback?

Just a quick bit more information. Our database is certainly weighted
towards being read heavy, rather than write heavy (with a read-only web
service accounting for ~90% of our traffic). Our tables vary in size,
with the upperbound being around 10mil rows.

I'm not sure exactly what more to say - but any feedback is definitely
appreciated. We're hoping to purchase this server on Monday, I
believe. Any questions, ask away!

Thanks,
- Ollie

[1]:
http://www.lsi.com/storage_home/products_home/internal_raid/megaraid_sas/entry_line/megaraid_sas_9240-4i/index.html