> Subject: Re: [CentOS] 4 X 500 gb drives - best software raid > config for abackup server? > > Hi there, > > I am currently setting up a server that will house my > backups (simply > > using rsync). > > > > This system has 4 X 500 gb drives and I am looking to raid for max > > drive space and data safety. Performance is not so much a concern. > > > > My experience with software raids in nil, so some of these may seem > > like pretty dumb questions. > > > > I was thinking a raid 1 is probably sufficient. > > > > Would it be best to raid 1 two drives each and LVM them together? > > > > My next question would be about how to do this as I have > never done a > > linux software raid. You are in luck. I never did one before when I started too. I did a step by step procedure that covers adding and removing drives... For centos 5.x, with 4 drives. http://www.bobhoffman.com/wordpress/?page_id=44 This will take 2 drives into a raid 1, with LVM and all that. IT adds a third drive as a hot spare incase one fails. It adds a fourth as a standalone backup (good for a rync of the raid) Just remember to wait for the drives to sync up before doing too much. This is a step by step for newbs like me and is perfectly tailored for what you need. Let me know if you have any issues.