[SOLVED] Dual boot on 2 RAID 0

simdimdim · 09-22-2011, 03:38 PM

Here's a situation i'll be e going up againts:
i have a Revodrive 240GB which is fake or software RAID 0 (not really sure but maybe "fake") it's not Hardware Raid that's guaranteed.
i also have 2 1 TB SATA HDDs which i want to pair in another RAID 0

The Plan

Revodrive:
120 GB for Windows
115 GB for Linux /
5 GB swap
The two SATAs:
100-200MB RAID 1 for /boot (grub and stuff)
and the rest in 2 logical drives 1 in NTFS and 1 for linux

The OSes would be Windows 7/8 and Natty 11.** (aiming at Kubuntu)

Here's the actual idea. Can i do the following?:

1.Boot the Natty CD/DVD and from there set up the SATAs RAID 0 (needs to be readable for other nonilinux OSes) and RAID 1
2. Install Windows on the revodrive using 120 GB from it
3.Install Grub and Linux on the SATAs RAID 1 and the revodrive respectfully
4.Set BIOS to boot from the RAID 1 (not important but how do i do that)

i'm sure Linux Can read the Revo`s RAID 0 with the proper firmware and Windows has no problem in that aspect as well

In general is this idea going to work and if you see a problem please do say so

thanks

P.S. The MoBo is GA-x58A-UD7 (it has a RAID function but i rly would like not using it)
Also everything absolutely new so no data to worry about

pingu · 09-23-2011, 03:33 AM

Aren't you mixing things up here?
If you set up software raid in Linux then Windows won't be able to access the raid - at least I haven't heard of any Windows capable of handling a Linux software raid.
Also, with software raid you can't boot from a raid partition as BIOS can't read it.
You will have to create a normal partition for booting.
If you use mobo's RAID then it should work the way you describe it though.

jefro · 09-23-2011, 05:01 PM

I'd boot to the raid bios to configure raid. How fake of a raid is it?

mostlyharmless · 09-23-2011, 05:35 PM

Yes, you can dual boot Windows and Linux off of firmware aka fakeraid 0. There are multiple threads on how to do that depending on your hardware and distro. Windows XP has no problems with this; haven't tried Windows 7.

simdimdim · 09-30-2011, 06:02 AM

Yes, i noticed later that what i have typed wouldn't work case it would be a software RAID but actually i was thinking of finding a way to build non software RAID from linux cause i dont want to waste 2 GBs for RAID 1 only for the /boot partition (such a waste) and when we eclude the problems the MoBo is making for me it should work will post the progres i've maid after i get my PC back

simdimdim · 10-23-2011, 03:40 PM

Yes Victory at last!
Here is what i did:
i had a screwed up IDE installation of Win 7 to begin with (It was on the ICH10R)
i had to move to one of the other controllers so i could update the Intel drivers so it wouldn't freeze at AHCI BIOS etc.
then disconnected the hdd raid installed ubuntu/kubuntu with grub2 on the wiped revodrive Array (not in some partition (i suggest dont try to make a separate partition for /boot)
installed win 7 got it running plugged the two HHDs After the win7 start wiped em as well
did the MoBo Intel Bios RAID 0
downloaded and burner Super Grub2 Disk booted into linux

Code:

sudo update-grub
sudo dmraid -r (check your raid devices)
sudo dmraid -tay (maybe -ay -v as well just to be sure)
sudo grub-install /dev/mapper/isw_Your_Revodrive_Raid_array
sudo update-grub

Code:

sudo reboot now

IAnd it's Ok now

i'll add a partition from the other RAID for /home later