-----Original Message----- From: centos-bounces@centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces@centos.org] On Behalf Of Matt Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 8:55 AM To: CentOS mailing list Subject: [CentOS] Switching To Raid1

I have this ASUS M2NBP-VM motherboard http://tinyurl.com/3xby3h running CentOS 4.4 as a web/email server. It has a 500Gb SATA2 drive with about 32Gb in use.

The motherboard supports hardware raid. Is there a way to switch to RAID1 without reinstalling or loosing any data?

Also, if I am running raid how do I know if there is a failure on one of the drives anyway? Is hardware RAID1 a good idea?

Matt _______________________________________________ CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos

Using a hardware RAID device, you should be able to switch to a mirror, simply by adding the second drive, and creating a mirror in the bios before booting up (Be careful in there, though. Make sure you understand what you see on screen before you commit.) You SHOULD verify that the OS does see the hardware device before you make the switch. (For instance, in windows, put the card in the machine, but don't move the drive. Boot up, let it detect and install the drivers, then shutdown and move.) This MAY or may not work with your ASUS board, though, as it's likely a fake raid. I HAVE used some add-in raid cards to make a mirror, and then break it, to replace a failing drive as well. (A SIIG pci device if I recall) Not under Centos, though. As far as getting notified, it will depend on the device. I have an Adaptec 2610 raid card under Centos (4) and am able to use a cron job to send emails with the raid status. I thought is was better to go hardware when I started this box.

Based on what I've read though, most people here will recommend using a linux software raid, as they claim the performance is better AND you can get notification.

Some things I've seen on this list suggests that it CAN be done after the fact, but the impression is it might be a painful process. I'd us clonezilla or a h1r3n's boot CD to make an image before I started.....

I'm sure someone more knowing will provide more details.

Here's a blast from the past:

http://lists.centos.org/pipermail/centos/2007-February/076040.html

Let us know what works....

Dennis

-----Original Message----- From: centos-bounces@centos.org [mailto:centos-bounces@centos.org]On Behalf Of Matt Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 10:55 AM To: CentOS mailing list Subject: [CentOS] Switching To Raid1

I have this ASUS M2NBP-VM motherboard http://tinyurl.com/3xby3h running CentOS 4.4 as a web/email server. It has a 500Gb SATA2 drive with about 32Gb in use.

The motherboard supports hardware raid. Is there a way to switch to RAID1 without reinstalling or loosing any data?

Also, if I am running raid how do I know if there is a failure on one of the drives anyway? Is hardware RAID1 a good idea?

Matt

Like most here, I would suggest going the software Raid route. The performance is about the same As I learned earlier this week you can move a software raid to another system of even distro. It totally independent from the server hardware. To create a Raid just google "mdadm software raid" and you get lots of information. As far as monitoring: Smartmontools will email you when a drive fails or is about to. Look at /etc/smartd.conf for details. Just remember Raid is not a replacement for a good backup plan it just provides fault tolerance.

---

CentOS mailing list CentOS@centos.org http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos