Mini Review: KingWin Dual 2.5-Inch to 3.5-Inch SATA HDD Converter with RAID

[StevenD]

Like others, I had serious "slow-down" issues when I was running a BTRFS cache drive.  I really wanted to use the BTRFS capabilities of running multiple cache drives (for redundancy), but I was not willing to deal with the performance issues.  I formatted my cache as XFS and I haven't looked back since. It's been rock solid since that day.

 

Since I'm running Dockers, and my Plex and Emby metadata is almost 80GB now, I really wanted some redundancy.  I thought about re-installing an Areca 12xx card that I had laying around, and running a dual-SSD RAID1, but I realized that I am out of slots on my motherboard.  I'm running unRAID as a guest on ESXi, and I'm using a fiber-channel card to access my shared datastores, and I have a two-port Ethernet card that I'm passing through to unRAID. Hence, no available ports.  I also run a 15-drive case, so this also allows me to mount the two cache drives in a single slot, leaving free my last slot to add an additional parity drive some day.

 

I went in search of a solution for a RAID1 cache and I think I have found it.  It's the KingWin HDCV-2.  Its a 3.5" enclosure, that will hold TWO 2.5" drives, and run them in JBOD, RAID1, RAID0 or pass through each drive.  It can run either standard 2.5" hard drives or SSDs.

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00856XFVW

 

I have two Crucial M550 512GB SSDs installed. 

 

So far, I'm pretty pleased with this little device. The only issue that I have is that it is SATA2 (3.0Gb/s), not SATA3 (6.0Gb/s).  This took my speeds from ~450MB/s to ~250MB/s.  This is not really a problem in my day-to-day operation.

 

This is what unRAID sees:

 

 

[mr-hexen]

Does this provide a GUI at all? How would you recover from a failed drive? How do you know which has failed, or that one failed at all?

[StevenD]

Does this provide a GUI at all? How would you recover from a failed drive? How do you know which has failed, or that one failed at all?

 

Theres a Windows based utility where you can setup and test the array and drives.

[uldise]

Steven, may be you can test this for me:

if you connect this device to your motherboard through backplane, and device is configured as JBOD, your ESXI see both HHDs as separate drives?

[StevenD]

Steven, may be you can test this for me:

if you connect this device to your motherboard through backplane, and device is configured as JBOD, your ESXI see both HHDs as separate drives?

 

Sorry, I wont be able to do that anytime soon. I'm not going to take my unRAID down long enough to do that, nor do I want to risk my data by changing the switch to JBOD.

 

However, I did install it on my Windows box and it did see both drives when in JBOD mode.

[NotYetRated]

Couple of semi-off topic questions.

 

Why Plex and Emby? I actually just heard about Emby, and am curious to your use case for both.

 

Also, 80gigs? Wow I thought my Plex at 20 was big, haha. Do you generate thumbnails or something?

[StevenD]

Couple of semi-off topic questions.

 

Why Plex and Emby? I actually just heard about Emby, and am curious to your use case for both.

 

Also, 80gigs? Wow I thought my Plex at 20 was big, haha. Do you generate thumbnails or something?

 

I've answered this question before, but I use Plex externally and Emby internally. I much prefer the Emby interface on the HTPCs inside my house.  Plus, Emby can now do Live TV.  Plex is a much better mobile interface, and easier to provide access to my family with their Rokus and Fire TVs.

 

Nope, no thumbnail generation. I even went through and deleted any that may have previous existed. I actually think something may be wrong as my Plex metadata as it is growing way too quickly.

[WeeboTech]

Steven, may be you can test this for me:

if you connect this device to your motherboard through backplane, and device is configured as JBOD, your ESXI see both HHDs as separate drives?

 

Sorry, I wont be able to do that anytime soon. I'm not going to take my unRAID down long enough to do that, nor do I want to risk my data by changing the switch to JBOD.

 

However, I did install it on my Windows box and it did see both drives when in JBOD mode.

 

I have used the KingWin Dual 2.5-Inch to 3.5-Inch SATA HDD Converter with RAID as well.

If the OS and controller support port multipliers and the unit is configured correctly, the drives show up as individual drives.

 

The Dual mSATA SSD to 2.5” SATA RAID Adapter Converter is similar with mSATA devices.

I am using it in JBOD mode on a micro server.

 

Startech Dual mSATA SSD to 2.5” SATA RAID Adapter Converter

http://www.startech.com/HDD/Adapters/Dual-mSATA-SSD-to-2-5-SATA-RAID-Adapter~25SAT22MSAT

 

I wrote about it here.

My experience with the HP Microserver Gen 8

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=36048.msg335796#msg335796

 

It has the same speed constraints. I am using it under ESX as well.

[NotYetRated]

Couple of semi-off topic questions.

 

Why Plex and Emby? I actually just heard about Emby, and am curious to your use case for both.

 

Also, 80gigs? Wow I thought my Plex at 20 was big, haha. Do you generate thumbnails or something?

 

I've answered this question before, but I use Plex externally and Emby internally. I much prefer the Emby interface on the HTPCs inside my house.  Plus, Emby can now do Live TV.  Plex is a much better mobile interface, and easier to provide access to my family with their Rokus and Fire TVs.

 

Nope, no thumbnail generation. I even went through and deleted any that may have previous existed. I actually think something may be wrong as my Plex metadata as it is growing way too quickly.

 

 

Okay so your Plex is exhibiting symptoms mine was. I attributed it to the fact that I originally had thumbnail generation on. My current cache, newly generated on my unRAID docker install is around 20GB. It was 60GB on my Windows box 2 weeks ago, same exact library of media. Perhaps there is indeed something wrong there. I fully expected the new PMS install to be the exact same size as it was on my Windows PMS. Odd.

 

As for emby/plex, thanks for the details. I will have to check out Emby I guess!

[uldise]

Sorry, I wont be able to do that anytime soon. I'm not going to take my unRAID down long enough to do that, nor do I want to risk my data by changing the switch to JBOD.

 

However, I did install it on my Windows box and it did see both drives when in JBOD mode.

 

thanks for sharing

i'm wondering about motherboards specs - just looked at both your and mine and it states 6 sata ports and support of 6 sata hdd.

if i have all 6 slots connected, and wanna replace one connection with KingWin, who knows will it work or not..

and looks like KingWin is not avalable here in Europe, i will look for something similar.

[StevenD]

Sorry, I wont be able to do that anytime soon. I'm not going to take my unRAID down long enough to do that, nor do I want to risk my data by changing the switch to JBOD.

 

However, I did install it on my Windows box and it did see both drives when in JBOD mode.

 

thanks for sharing

i'm wondering about motherboards specs - just looked at both your and mine and it states 6 sata ports and support of 6 sata hdd.

if i have all 6 slots connected, and wanna replace one connection with KingWin, who knows will it work or not..

and looks like KingWin is not avalable here in Europe, i will look for something similar.

 

I would imagine it would work, basically giving you "seven" SATA ports.  I'm guessing that it is just a SATA expander, therefore it would share the bandwidth of the single SATA connection. 

 

Not ideal, but would probably work in a pinch.

[uldise]

 

I would imagine it would work, basically giving you "seven" SATA ports.  I'm guessing that it is just a SATA expander, therefore it would share the bandwidth of the single SATA connection. 

 

Not ideal, but would probably work in a pinch.

 

if you connect two 2.5" hdd, then SataII will work ok i think. with two SSD it will be limited if you use them at the same time..

just did a quick research and found only one similar item available here: http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278

 

if someone have another experience, please post a model..

[StevenD]

 

I would imagine it would work, basically giving you "seven" SATA ports.  I'm guessing that it is just a SATA expander, therefore it would share the bandwidth of the single SATA connection. 

 

Not ideal, but would probably work in a pinch.

 

if you connect two 2.5" hdd, then SataII will work ok i think. with two SSD it will be limited if you use them at the same time..

just did a quick research and found only one similar item available here: http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278

 

if someone have another experience, please post a model..

 

That says its SATA III (6.0Gb/s).  Looks like I need to buy it!  I wonder why i didnt run across this one in my research?

[uldise]

That says its SATA III (6.0Gb/s).  Looks like I need to buy it!  I wonder why i didnt run across this one in my research?

ouch.. may be you can get one for testing and return it back then?

[uldise]

 

I would imagine it would work, basically giving you "seven" SATA ports.  I'm guessing that it is just a SATA expander, therefore it would share the bandwidth of the single SATA connection. 

 

Not ideal, but would probably work in a pinch.

 

if you connect two 2.5" hdd, then SataII will work ok i think. with two SSD it will be limited if you use them at the same time..

just did a quick research and found only one similar item available here: http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278

 

if someone have another experience, please post a model..

 

That says its SATA III (6.0Gb/s).  Looks like I need to buy it!  I wonder why i didnt run across this one in my research?

 

Just for reference: i got Enermax 3203 (http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278) and started testing. i wanna switch it in mode when OS sees both drives separately, but looks like it's not possible. JBOD concatenates both drives together, NOR(no Raid) sees just one single disk.  i can test more options, just ask - i have 2 500GB green HDD in, sorry no SSDs available for testing..

[JimPhreak]

 

I would imagine it would work, basically giving you "seven" SATA ports.  I'm guessing that it is just a SATA expander, therefore it would share the bandwidth of the single SATA connection. 

 

Not ideal, but would probably work in a pinch.

 

if you connect two 2.5" hdd, then SataII will work ok i think. with two SSD it will be limited if you use them at the same time..

just did a quick research and found only one similar item available here: http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278

 

if someone have another experience, please post a model..

 

That says its SATA III (6.0Gb/s).  Looks like I need to buy it!  I wonder why i didnt run across this one in my research?

 

Just for reference: i got Enermax 3203 (http://www.enermax.com/home.php?fn=eng/product_a1_1_4&lv0=3&lv1=81&no=278) and started testing. i wanna switch it in mode when OS sees both drives separately, but looks like it's not possible. JBOD concatenates both drives together, NOR(no Raid) sees just one single disk.  i can test more options, just ask - i have 2 500GB green HDD in, sorry no SSDs available for testing..

 

Hmmm, that's an interesting option as well.  The only thing about that is that going that route will take up one of my 3.5" hot swap bays when I can normally just keep my 2.5" SSD's velcro'd somewhere in my case.