Hi,

I have 3 x 72GB hard disks connected via a scsi/raid controller in a Proliant server that I have setup as a Raid 5 array using HP's Smart Start cd. My question is, how do I get this recognize hardware (not software) raid array to be recognized in Red Hat AS 3.0? The 2 x 36gb raid 1 array is where the Red Hat installation resides, and I just used the default partitions that the installer setup. I looked in my Red Hat book (cause i'm a linux newb) and all i can find are topics covering software raid setups with commands like makeraid, etc. but i can't find hardware raid setup info.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,
Matt

There isn't any problem if SmartStart set you up as RAID 5.

...from www.webhosting.net/25.html

" Provides data striping at the byte level and also stripes error correction information. This is the best out of any RAID solution for data recovery. It requires a minimum of 3 hard-drives, and at least 1 online spare. "

You must understand the difference between RAID0/1 RAID5 (and now) RAID6.

I believe that if you go back into SmartStart under 'Array configuration' you will
see where all your space went. If you would like to maximize your storage you will have to switch to RAID0 but you will be sacrificing space for recovery options.

SmartStart IS the program to use to configure your particular array. Make a backup copy of that CD.

nz

I understand the Raid levels, and the array has been properly configured using the Smart Start CD, but how do I properly format and mount this array so that it can be used in Red Hat?

1. Boot from the Redhat CD
2. Click through to the partitioning menu.
3. Chose the Disk Druid and MANUAL configuration
4. If you still have a clean system, choose the drive volume you would like to format.
a. The right side dialog box shows the current device configuration.
b. The left side dialog box will open when you select a device from the top of the
right side dialog.
c. I am all linux so one of my machines is partitioned as follows:

/dev/ida/c0d0
/dev/ida/c0d0p3 vfat 36M (My Compaq tools partition - installed by default with SmartStart)
/dev/ida/c0d0p1 ext3 / 1000M (ext3 root no LVM)
/dev ida/c0d0p2 swap 550M
/dev/ida/c0d0p4 Extrended
/dev/ida/c0d0p5 VolGroup00 LVM PV 6602M
/dev/ida/c0d1p1 VolGroup01 LVM PV 17339M

VolGroup00 PE 16M
LogVol00 /usr 3584M
LogVol01 /var 2992M

VolGroup01 PE 32M
LogVol00 /usr/share 2304M
LogVol01 /usr/local 3008M
LogVol02 /home 6016M
LogVol03 /pub 5984M
*******************************************************************************************
LVM = Logical Volume Manager
PV = Physical Volume
PE = Physical Extent
*******************************************************************************************

You set up your normal partitions first, then setup your LVM PE's (if that is the way you elect to go)
then you make Logical Volumes in your PV's by using the 'LVM' button on the right side Disk Druid
dialog box. The LVM2 HowTo explains the concept to the neophyte level. You could just as well
continue on from / and format your drives as regular parttitions, i.e. /, /usr, /var, etc.... but why - IMHO
when LVM gives you the benefit of being able to choose various filesystems ( I have one machine on XFS
with LVM, and the rest are LVM/Ext3) and adjust the volume sizes as your needs change.

I am very impressed with the RedHat DiskDruid tool having come to it from Debian and cfdisk. I am not
much for pretty interfaces but this one works well.

Good Luck

nz

Thanks for the detailed instructions. So basically I need to boot from the Red Hat CD and use Disk Druid to setup the Raid 5 on the existing Red Hat install? I am a little worried that I may blow away the 2 disks in raid 1 that have the Red Hat partitions, when i use disk druid. I am unfamiliar with the the way Linux sees and formats partitions/hard drives. I just want the 3 disk in the raid 5 array to be used for storage, and have the ext3 file system because that is what is used for the actual Red Hat installation.

https://www.redhat.com/archives/ fedora-list/2005-January/msg04469.html
There is always someone who has had a bad experience with a program, maybe thousands. As I said above, I have chosen the manual method, so I cannot speak to what may happen if you miss the proper DidkDruid radio button.

Be veerrrryyyy careful, I am 89.9% sure that DiskDruid won't steer you wrong, But as always before you go messing around with basic disc tools make sure you have a good backup hidden in your sock drawer (I keep mine in a little fireproof safe in the basement, but the sock drawer is just as good a place as any IMHO) and if it's gui (aka X) based make sure you know how to bail out if things get flaky.