Port multiplier on Pogoplug series 4

[RTM]

Hi everyone

I have been looking into buying a port multiplier able enclosure(more specifically this enclosure from newegg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111177), and i was wondering if anyone have experience with such a setup.

Its my understanding that there could be some problems with the boot scripts, but does that only go for the oxnas based pogoplugs or also the Marvell ones like the series 4? (reference: http://archlinuxarm.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=2495)

[WarheadsSE]

I know that the GoFlex Net supports multipliers, I don't know if you can boot off them though.

[RTM]

My plan was actually to keep the OS on a USB stick, and use the SATA disks for data only.

So as long as it doesn't interfere with the regular boot process, i reckon it should be fine.

[xenoxaos]

I would recommend actually trying to put the OS on the hdd as well...sure, that hdd probably wont spin down, but it will probably last longer than a flash drive would anyway.

[emkay]

I actually use a case with port multiplier with the PPv4 (thats actually the reason i switched from the PPpro).

I have 4 disk in this enclosure, of which the first one is a 64GB SSD with the arch system on it. This setup works like charm!

[rvishegu]

Hi emkay,

Could you please elaborate on your setup? I am trying to build something similar with a arm based board with sata multiplier and a raid enclosure. Do you get good network thru-put?

I currently have a re-purposed mid-tower pentium desktop with 2 disks in raid 0 with freenas. I don't like that setup because it occupies too much self space and want to build something compact like a raid enclosure.

The raid enclosure I am planning to use is:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6816111177

Thanks,
Ramesh

[RTM]

I finally got my port multiplier enclosure(had to find a different supplier, because newegg didn't want to play ball), but i am having some problems with it.

I decided i would install ALARM on a small SSD, which worked fine when connected directly to the pogoplug, but when the SSD is connected through the port multiplier case(that is after having been installed through direct connection), it refuses to boot.

I was wondering if there is a trick, that i am missing? since emkay's post suggest that it is possible.

Here is what i have tried so far:
- Tried port 1 and 4 on the port multiplier case without other disks connected
- (after returning to pogoplug software) tried to install with ssd in port multiplier case, with case powered before pogoplug boots, it fails to load pogoplug software
- (after returning to pogoplug software) tried to install with ssd in port multiplier case, with case powered up after pogoplug boots, it hangs when case is detected (stops responding to ping)
- I have confirmed that the case, cable and ssd works through using old ALARM installation on usb disk, where disk is readable

At the moment, i have reverted the pps4 to pogoplug software, and is waiting for an update to that firmware to get pushed, in the (probably futile) hope that it will solve the problems the pogoplug software has with my multiplier case.
If that doesn't work i guess my only remaining option is to install ALARM on a usb key again.

If anyone has some suggestions I would be happy to hear them

[sambul13]

Having ArchLinux ARM installed on a small cheap 4Gb USB Thumb is not a bad idea. The Pogo will stay On all the time anyway, so no boot delays. Writes to the thumb are seldom at installing extra packages and updates. Why do you need to keep the enclosure and 64Gb SSD powered all the time to begin with, which on top will occupy a valuable slot in the enclosure, where you can install a large Media collection drive instead?

As to booting from that multiplier, don't you think it may require some Uboot arguments adjustment and the enclosure driver available and supported at boot? Did Pogoplug team express plans to support boot from Sata multipliers? Having ArchLinux ARM is enormously more useful anyway.

[RTM]

The reason why I am using the SSD(40GB intel x25-V btw), is based on the recomendations from this thread, as well as emkays experiences, obviously i dont need to use it, but if it can help with performance, i figure i might aswell use it since it is not being used anyway.

I dont really intend to use up all bays of the enclosure at the moment either, so the fact that an SSD uses a slot is not an issue atm either.

My intention is also not to be using the pogoplug software, its just for the initial installation of ALARM.

Obviously what i am angling for, is to find out what emkay did, and try to replicate that if possible.

[sambul13]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emkay', 'A')TM I use my PPpro with system on SATA port and a 4x-USB3/SATA-enclosure plugged into the USB2 of PPpro.