Setting up RAID 1

[linuxMaestro]

Hi,

I got the XFX SyncRAID SR3100 raid controller card and want to set up RAID 1 with 2 SATA drives.

How do I start? Do I install linux and make partitions on only one of the drives? Do I need partitions on both the drives? Are partitions mirrored automatically? Do I install linux on both drives? Do I hook both drives up to the RAID card and then install linux?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

[thedaver]

Typical hardware raid first involves installing the card and the drives. Then, during the machine's BIOS boot cycle you'll be offered a "CTRL-A" or other key sequence to enter the RAID card's BIOS/Setup.

In that menu you'll build your RAID 1 array and it may want some time to sync up the sectors on the two drives.. I strongly recommend letting all BIOS syncs complete to their end - some RAID BIOS will let you try to boot while the RAID is being sync'd. My experience is that this is a big disappointment waiting to happen.

Finally, when you go ahead and install your linux, the RAID's virtual drive will be recognized as a new physical drive using some sort of non- HDA nomenclature. This naming is very dependent on the distro being used, but it'll be wildly obvious when you go to add partitions.

Most installers will allow you to partition normally on this "drive" and should include any modules or boot parameters needed to bring up the card and recognize the array.

HTH....

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[linuxMaestro]

Thanks!

I got to the RAID BIOS and setup the array, but when I goto install linux it says No Drives Found however the RAID bios recognizes both SATA drives.

Why cant linux see the drives?

 

[Mag0007]

Is it possible to build a RAID1, after you install linux? I have an extra HD (same size and model)

 

[thedaver]

Maestro,
You may have to specifically enable drivers for the RAID card you are using. You also need to ensure that the hardware compatibility list for your distro will recognize the card you're using.

Mag00007, no. Not without scuttling the existing data/install.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[linuxMaestro]

I am not sure what you mean by:
Mag00007, no. Not without scuttling the existing data/install.

 

[plamb]

try this

http://www.murty.net/ataraid/existing.html

 

[linuxMaestro]

How do I enable the drivers for the Raid card I am using?

The info on there site is poor at best:

http://www.netcell.com/support_links.html

 

[linuxMaestro]

They sent me this, it looks like linux has to be installed on at least one drive first, then you have to configure the linux kernel to support RAID

http://www.netcell.com/support/Fedora_Core2_readme.txt

Should I install linux first?

 

[thedaver]

Their README is highly ambiguous as to WHERE you are installing the FC2 distro that you're going to modify. I would interpret their README to imply that you are going to install the OS on some regular IDE drive. Then you modify the kernel/modules to include support for the RAID card. Then you go through the steps to bring the RAID1 mirror online as /dev/hde.

That's kind of a pain in the ass and sort of misses the point of a RAID OS since you're now bound to the single IDE for actual bootup.

I would think they'd have a more detailed discussion about how to get the OS installed directly on the RAID1 you configure on the BIOS.

Try again with them.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/

 

[Mag0007]

Hmm...So I have to reinstall Linux, if I get a new HD to do RAID 1?

 

[thedaver]

If you want the mirror to be the boot partition you may have to. You can certainly add RAID anything as another partition at any time.

D.E.R. Management - IT Project Management Consulting

http://www.dermanagement.com/