LinuxQuestions.org
Share your knowledge at the LQ Wiki.
Home Forums Tutorials Articles Register
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian
User Name
Password
Debian This forum is for the discussion of Debian Linux.

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 05-27-2017, 12:23 PM   #1
8JhN
LQ Newbie
 
Registered: May 2017
Posts: 13

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
How to install Debian when using fakeraid?


I got disks to show when add dmraid=true when booting install-media. After successful install system failed to boot up and fall to busybox.

I had similar problems when I installed Arch. I fixed it by adding dm_mod, dm_mirror and dmraid to mkinitcpio.conf.

I've used rescue-cd and found out that dmraid package is installed. Maybe kernel has no dmraid support and it cannot read disks.
 
Old 05-27-2017, 03:47 PM   #2
Ser Olmy
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jan 2012
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 3,341

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
FakeRAID is software RAID with a boot ROM. The kernel doesn't see the RAID, but rather sees the individual drives. The dmraid executable reads the (proprietary) metadata from the drives, and then tells device-mapper (dm_mod et al) to assemble the RAID set.

You've basically identified the problem yourself already: The initrd probably lacks dmraid support. Obviously the kernel can see the drives and dmraid is present and able to activate the array, since you were able to install the OS. That leaves the initrd.

Unless the initrd loads the relevant device-mapper modules and runs dmraid to assemble the RAID, the RAID device just won't be there. You need to add dmraid to your initrd somehow.

Unfortunately, I don't know the specifics when it comes to Debian, but now that you know what you're looking for, perhaps the Debian documentation will be of some help.
 
Old 05-27-2017, 10:12 PM   #3
jefro
Moderator
 
Registered: Mar 2008
Posts: 21,993

Rep: Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628Reputation: 3628
Hello and welcome to LQ.

It is a risky install and not really worth trying. Fake raids have been known to show to distros as various things. Different versions of distro may show different media.

Once in a while you can get the card to present dedicated sata or what ever to the OS on upper channels on some models.
 
Old 05-28-2017, 05:47 AM   #4
Ser Olmy
Senior Member
 
Registered: Jan 2012
Distribution: Slackware
Posts: 3,341

Rep: Reputation: Disabled
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefro View Post
It is a risky install and not really worth trying. Fake raids have been known to show to distros as various things. Different versions of distro may show different media.
I really don't understand your reasons for making this claim.

Not all distributions have installers that support FakeRAID, so it's true that getting it to work can be somewhat difficult and involve hand-crafting an initrd, but the term "risky" seems to suggest that the end result might not be stable or work properly.

FakeRAID is simply a form of software RAID. The only difference between that and an md setup is the vendor-specific metadata format. A FakeRAID array is assembled and maintained by device-mapper, and surely you're not arguing that the dm subsystem, which forms the basis for LVM, is somehow unreliable?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefro View Post
Once in a while you can get the card to present dedicated sata or what ever to the OS on upper channels on some models.
Some years back (2000-ish) you might be able to find a dedicated Linux driver for a FakeRAID controller. I know Promise made one for their FastTrack series of ATA/IDE FakeRAID systems, and I even used it on one occasion. However, these drivers were neither open nor free.

These days, FakeRAID on Linux always relies on the OS seeing the actual SATA controllers and channels, and the RAID is built by directly accessing the metadata on each drive. Exactly like md, in fact.
 
  


Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
asus H87M-E install linux fakeraid stomach Linux - Hardware 2 10-11-2014 12:32 PM
Fakeraid install issues LinuxAlexS Ubuntu 1 11-22-2013 01:13 PM
Any distro easy to install in fakeraid ICH10 for newbies? Locklear Linux - Distributions 6 01-06-2011 01:28 PM
Another FakeRaid question Quakeboy02 Linux - Kernel 6 03-07-2007 04:57 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Distributions > Debian

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:16 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration