Hi,

I've just installed Fedora 2, and upgraded the kernal to 2.6.6-1.435.2.3smp. I've followed the software raid how-to and have configured the system as described in the following /etc/raidtab:

raiddev /dev/md0
raid-level 5
nr-raid-disks 4
nr-spare-disks 0
persistent-superblock 1
parity-algorithm left-symmetric
chunk-size 32
device /dev/hde1
raid-disk 0
device /dev/hdf1
raid-disk 1
device /dev/hdg1
raid-disk 2
device /dev/hdh1
raid-disk 3

raiddev /dev/md1
raid-level 1
nr-raid-disks 2
nr-spare-disks 0
persistent-superblock 1
chunk-size 32
device /dev/hdg2
raid-disk 0
device /dev/hdh2
raid-disk 1

I've successfully mounted these filesystems and used them. However, when I reboot, raid is not started for them, and I have to start it manually.

I've checked the kernal log, and I get the following:

md: Autodetecting RAID arrays.
md: autorun ...
md: considering hdh2 ...
md: adding hdh2 ...
md: hdh1 has different UUID to hdh2
md: adding hdg2 ...
md: hdg1 has different UUID to hdh2
md: hdf1 has different UUID to hdh2
md: hde1 has different UUID to hdh2
md: created md1
md: bind<hdg2>
md: bind<hdh2>
md: running: <hdh2><hdg2>
md: personality 3 is not loaded!
md :do_md_run() returned -22
md: md1 stopped.
md: unbind<hdh2>
md: export_rdev(hdh2)
md: unbind<hdg2>
md: export_rdev(hdg2)
md: considering hdh1 ...
md: adding hdh1 ...
md: adding hdg1 ...
md: adding hdf1 ...
md: adding hde1 ...
md: created md0
md: bind<hde1>
md: bind<hdf1>
md: bind<hdg1>
md: bind<hdh1>
md: running: <hdh1><hdg1><hdf1><hde1>
md: personality 4 is not loaded!
md :do_md_run() returned -22
md: md0 stopped.
md: unbind<hdh1>
md: export_rdev(hdh1)
md: unbind<hdg1>
md: export_rdev(hdg1)
md: unbind<hdf1>
md: export_rdev(hdf1)
md: unbind<hde1>
md: export_rdev(hde1)
md: ... autorun DONE.

I presume that my raid personalities are being loaded after the autodetect has completed. How do I change that? Do I need to recompile the kernal with the modules in, or can it be done without?

Thanks for your help.

Yours,

Kheldar.

I seem to be experiencing similar problems with Fedora Core 2.

I've set up a RAID array on md0, which starts successfully if I do a raidstart on the device.
I've also reconfigured GRUB to boot to the primary RAID disk (sda as hd0), and FC2 does load successfully.
However, RAID services [FAILED] on start up, and /dev/md0 isn't mounted. I have to manually start the RAID array, then mount the disk.
I am thinking I can't add /dev/md0 to the fstab until RAID successfully starts on boot.

Does anyone know what is going wrong, and can help me out? (answers might help Kheldar too).

Kind Regards,

Ru.

Kheldar:

I've found these instructions useful for setting up RAID on Fedora (a Red Hat derivative, obviously):

I'm only just running through the list, and my partitions are just syncing, so I don't know for certain that it works. However, it's the best set of instructions I have found thus far for doing it.

Regards,

Rupert

I've finally done it.

RAID is now working from boot with Fedora Core 2 with S-ATA.

Here's how I did it this time:

1) Installed FC2 normally
2) Set up raidtab and raid arrays as per instructions
3) Reinstalled FC2 from scratch, choosing to manually partition. This FC2 installer detects your existing RAID arrays (if you've done it correctly) and you can choose to mount /dev/md0, /dev/md1, /dev/mdx as root, /boot, /var or whatever. Format as ext3, and then FC2 installs onto the RAID devices. Thus Robert is your father's brother.

It may not be necessary to perform steps 1 & 2. You -may- be able to set up the RAID arrays from scratch if you manually partition the first time around.

Hope this saves someone a lot of hassle and headaches.

Regards,

Ru.

P.S: Don't forget to install GRUB Boot Loader on your mirror HD, or your system won't boot if the first disk fails

e.g:
bash# grub
grub> device (hd0) /dev/sdb
grub> root (hd0,0)
grub> setup (hd0)

Exchange /dev/sdb for your second disk (possibly /dev/hdb or some other device drive)

Thanks Duckboy. My primary HDD just died, so I've rearranged and reinstalled with root on my raid1 and a secondary raid5. That's starting automatically fine now.