I'm trying to setup a system with a Raid 1 Array. I believe it will be a hardware raid because it is on the board. I'm using this hardware here. I'm trying to figure out what would be the best distro to use and also what kernel I should use and basicly how to set it up. I have found some tutorials which I will read into but I was wondering if anyone had any insight on this. I like Slackware, Gentoo, and Unbuntu. Does anyone know if one is better than the other for ease of setting up a Raid Array. Thanks for all the help.

Aaron

eVGA 256-P2-N383-TX Geforce 6800 256MB DDR PCI Express x16 Video Card -

mushkin High Performance 1GB (2 x 512MB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 533 (PC 4200) Dual Channel Kit System Memory - Retail

Intel Pentium 4 630 Prescott 800MHz FSB LGA 775 EM64T Processor Model
BX80547PG3000F -

GIGABYTE GA-8NSLI ROYAL ATX Intel Motherboard -

Western Digital Caviar SE WD1200JS 120GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s
Hard Drive -

LITE-ON Black IDE DVD Burner Model SOHW-1693S Black -

You probably already know this, but in some sense there are two types of RAIDs: software RAIDs and hardware RAIDs. Software RAIDs use the operating system to perform the behind the curtain RAID operations, while hardware RAIDs use a hardware controller to perform these tasks.

If you're setting up a hardware RAID, then addition to your hard drives, you have a RAID controller. How many hard drives are you using? What kind of RAID controller are you using?

If you don't have a controller, then you are looking at a software RAID. If so, the different distributions won't perform that differently, because kernel-level operations will dominate.

Hardware RAIDs are easy as pie; Linux doesn't know the difference. It looks like one big SCSI device to the operating system. Software RAIDs require some manipulation and maintenance. Sometimes very little; other times more.

Thanks for the reply. I need to figure out if I have a controller and what kind. You have helped alot though telling me that the support is in the kernel and is not distro specific.

Once I get further into this project I might have some more questions but thanks for the reply.


Aaron

No problem at all. If you get stuck, come back and post some more.

That board does not appear to have a Hardware RAID controller on it..
http://www.gigabyte-usa.com/Motherbo...LI%20Royal.htm

you will need to configre software RAID if you want a RAID 1 Array.
http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-HOWTO.html