Nice to see an update [LWN.net]

Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 9:13 UTC (Tue) by farnz (subscriber, #17727)
In reply to: Nice to see an update by Cyberax
Parent article: No kidding: Gentoo GNU/Hurd

Highpoint are not the cheapest make, by a long shot. For example, this is a simple device based around the PEX88024 PCIe switch chip (which is a true switch, not a splitter), and that costs $200.

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Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 10:26 UTC (Tue) by pizza (subscriber, #46) [Link] (4 responses)

> Highpoint are not the cheapest make, by a long shot. For example, this is a simple device based around the PEX88024 PCIe switch chip (which is a true switch, not a splitter), and that costs $200.

While that is certainly cheaper, you still managed to prove Cyberax's point though.

(A SAS controller+cables are not only cheaper, but SAS drives are also far cheaper on a $/TB basis. And won't wear out on you like flash will..)

Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 10:59 UTC (Tue) by intelfx (subscriber, #130118) [Link] (3 responses)

> (<...> SAS drives are also far cheaper on a $/TB basis. And won't wear out on you like flash will..)

That's entirely unrelated to the choice of bus/interface.

Sigh. If you argue, please argue *correctly*.

Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 11:06 UTC (Tue) by pizza (subscriber, #46) [Link] (2 responses)

> That's entirely unrelated to the choice of bus/interface.

Convenient, you cut out the directly-related first half of my reply.

> Sigh. If you argue, please argue *correctly*.

...Please follow your own advice before casting shade at others.

Meanwhile, are you seriously saying that "total solution cost" isn't a factor in bus/interface selection?

Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 11:35 UTC (Tue) by intelfx (subscriber, #130118) [Link] (1 responses)

> Convenient, you cut out the directly-related first half of my reply.

Because it's not the one I want to respond to. That point is discussed in the other subthread. And yes, it is somewhat more expensive, by virtue of NVMe being a more capable interface. That's basic economy.

> Please follow your own advice before casting shade at others.

I'm not casting shade, I'm directly saying that (a part of) your argument is invalid.

> Meanwhile, are you seriously saying that "total solution cost" isn't a factor in bus/interface selection?

You argued for SAS against NVMe on the basis that "SAS drives" (which you implied to be HDDs) are cheaper and supposedly more reliable than "NVMe drives" (which you implied to be flash-based). Both implications are invalid to make in an argument about *bus interfaces*.

Your argument is akin to saying that because a Ferrari is more expensive than a tricycle (while you are content with the latter), three wheels are better than four.

Nice to see an update

Posted Apr 7, 2026 11:55 UTC (Tue) by Wol (subscriber, #4433) [Link]

> You argued for SAS against NVMe on the basis that "SAS drives" (which you implied to be HDDs) are cheaper and supposedly more reliable than "NVMe drives" (which you implied to be flash-based). Both implications are invalid to make in an argument about *bus interfaces*.

Not only invalid in a an argument over buses, but many many years ago, when somebody did a shoot-out over flash drives, I was left with the very strong impressions that flash drives outperformed rotating rust for reliability and longevity ... (okay, not the cheap bargain basement stuff). The only advantage rust has over flash, once you are paying for decent quality, is rust is a lot cheaper.

Cheers,
Wol