[CentOS] Dangerous Software Raid instructions on Wiki

Wed Aug 12 14:48:01 UTC 2009
Max Hetrick <maxhetrick at verizon.net>

Chan Chung Hang Christopher wrote:
> http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/SoftwareRAIDonCentOS5
> 
> has:
> 
> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=512 count=64
> dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=512 count=64
> 
> Will the joker who put in this particular gem without any warnings or a 
> clear explanation for those who need a clueby4 with regards to file 
> systems please either remove the instructions or add a very clear 
> warning that damage to file systems that is not recoverable will result 
> if run on the wrong disk(s).
> 
> My successor at my previous job has gleefully followed those 
> instructions (he seriously needs a clueby4 which is why he bothers to 
> actually read HowTos) and on a production box (who wants pop-corn and 
> soda? Sorry, the er support conversation will not be on irc) and I think 
> this seriously highlights the need for HowTo writers to seriously 
> consider their audience as dumb monkeys that just follow whatever you 
> tell them to do without thinking if you do not list out things they 
> first have to think about or questions they first need to answer.

The document's first sentence clearly states the purpose of the document:

"This article addresses the setting up of a software (mdraid) RAID1 at 
install time on systems without a true hardware RAID* controller."

The part being important here is "install time." So I think it's pretty 
clear. Is it the document writer's fault that other didn't read this 
part? I don't think so.

Regards,
Max