[RndTbl] Hybrid Flash+HDD - FYI

[Sean Cody]

 On Sat, 21 May 2011 16:16:05 -0500, Trevor Cordes wrote:
> On 2011-05-21 Dan Martin wrote:
>>
>> Is there a way of making your own hybrid?  It would be nice to have 
>> a
>> 32GB SSD (or several in a RAID) that would act as a cache to slower
>> drives.  Some logic would be needed to ensure that the most stale
>> info is written to the mechanical HD when resources were available.
>
> I don't think there is such a thing yet, though the linux community
> could/would probably come up with something in software if there was 
> a
> benefit to it.  However, the cheaper main RAM gets, the less argument
> you have for needing a middle SSD cache layer.
>
> On a similar note, I've been thinking a lot about using cheap/small
> SSD's for swap and journal duty.  FS journal activity that happens on
> all mainstream FS's now could benefit from moving off the same 
> spindles
> the data is on.  Has anyone played with this idea?  I'm thinking it
> would really enhance the speed of things like numerous small file
> writes.
> _______________________________________________

 Checkout the Intel Sandybridge Z68 chipset which has an SSD caching 
 feature.
 It will take up to 64GB of SSD as an 'inline' cache (that is not 
 separate drives in OS).
 Along with that chipset release Intel released a 20GB SLC mSATA SSD 
 which perfectly fits the bill there.
 Get a Z68 motherboard and a 'small' SSD in mSATA format and you have a 
 nifty SSD cache for your spinning metal without wasting a SATA port.

 I just heard about it myself and haven't played with it (or will ever 
 play with it) but it sounds like an interesting option.

-- 
 Sean