Hello,
I'm turning my old desktop into a file server.

Right now I have a DVD/CD Combo Drive, 120g HD and two 400gig HDs.
All on ATA100 IDE, I'll be using the onboard controller.

What I would like to do is take all three HDs and combine them into one partition.
The only way that I know how to do that is JBOD RAID.
I guess it's not a huge issue if my storage is split up into thirds, but I'd like to make it one big block.

Is there a way to do this, other than RAID?


Another question, I am thinking of using SCSI Drive(s) for the OS and keeping the IDE for mass storage. I have a SCSI RAID controller, I'd just need to buy the drive(s) (I think the controller is 68pin Ultra 320). Is this a good decision, does it not matter, or is it not worth the effort/cost?

If it matters, I'll be storing MP3s, Anime, Movies, and recorded shows from my new Internal TV Tuner.

Thanks in advance.

I'm not sure what your asking about making all 3 IDE drives one volume really is possible apart from RAID. I think your out of luck there bro.

As for the SCSI idea. It always is ideal to keep your OS on a separate HDD from your regular data you will be storing on the file server. I do the same a small old 10gb Maxtor IDE drive for the OS> then I have 4xc 320gb SATA HDD's drives in RAID5. I too may move to SCSI when the time comes if i can find a SCSI adapter and drive for cheap.

I don't think it really would be viable going for SCSI unless its going to be under heavy used. The noise of a SCSI drive may drive you a bit spare too. However you already have a SCSI adapter and you very well may find a 2nd hand drive on the cheap.

Trying to answer this, to clarify my question, but it doesn't make any sense.

Forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but I want to take three physical drives and format them as one partition (volume).
I belive JBOD RAID is the only way to do it , I was wondering if there was a different way.

Under most redhat based systems you have logical volums that can cross physical drives. LVM I think is the acronym - I guess logical volume management.

If you use CentOS or similar, I'm pretty sure it will stick all three drives in one LVM and look like a single drive

Another thought, you don't really need the OS on its own drive, but it can help to have it in it's own partition