Hi all,

ok, i have a server machine without HardRAID, and i wish to install 2 hhd with softRAID 1.

I followed the steps in the article "How to install openSUSE on software RAID" and successful to install the RAID 1 settings on my machine. After the installation, i able to boot in and all work smooth and fine.

The purpose i setup RAID 1 is because i wan to have a backup mirror disk, mean if the first disk spoilt, i can just take out the spoilt one and boot from 2nd hdd. So i did on a testing of take out the first hdd, then let the system boot from 2nd hdd. And now the system popup an error msg "GRUB Error 22".

any wrong of my steps? or i have missed out some settings? Please help ...

Thank you
PS: i am using openSUSE 11.1

Regards,
Kenny

Hi to all expert,

i have tested to take out the first hdd and let the 2nd hdd boot, and i get the msg mentioned above.

BUT if i took out the 2nd hdd and let the 1st hdd to boot, it able to boot and work smooth. why ? really weird...

can anyone help me?

thank you

Regards,
Kenny

Use any Linux Live CD, log in as root and enter command: fdisk -l (lower case Letter L) and post the partition information here. Do this with only the 2nd drive attached. While logged in as root, type grub and get the grub prompt (grub>). Type "geometry (hd0)" without quotes and "geometry (hd1) and post output here. When you replace the first hard drive with the second, do you plug in to same connector?

Hi yancek,

where can i download the Linux Live CD?

those harddisks are SATA, so they have their own connector.

Regards,
Kenny

You can use your Opensuse CD, let it load and open a terminal/konsole to type the commands.

I'm sure you have multiple SATA wires/connectors but I'm curious as to whether it makes a difference if you plug the second disk to the same connector the first disk was plugged to. You might try this to see what the results are. Also, you might try running these same commands with both disks plugged in to see the output.

Hi yancek,

sory for late reply, below are the result from my machine ...

Command = fdisk -l (* with only 2nd HDD)

Disk /dev/sda: 80.0 GB, 80000000000 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 9726 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000080

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 2 131 1044225 fd Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda2 132 4569 35648235 fd Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda3 4570 9726 41423602+ fd Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/md0: 1069 MB, 1069273088 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 261053 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa9c3726f

Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md1: 36.5 GB, 36503715840 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 8912040 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Disk /dev/md2: 42.4 GB, 42417692672 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 10355882 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md2 doesn't contain a valid partition table

=======================================

Command = geometry (hd0) and geometry (hd1)

grub> geometry (hd0)
drive 0x80: C/H/S = 9726/255/63, The number of sectors = 156250000, /dev/sda
Partition num: 0, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0xfd
Partition num: 1, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0xfd
Partition num: 2, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0xfd

grub> geometry (hd1)
drive 0x81: C/H/S = 9726/255/63, The number of sectors = 156250000, /dev/sdb
Partition num: 0, Filesystem type unknown, partition type 0xfd
Partition num: 1, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0xfd
Partition num: 2, Filesystem type is ext2fs, partition type 0xfd

=============================

Thx

Regards,
Kenny

I've never used RAID (software or hardware) but I am assuming that you have your original disk with the operating system and data. The second disk is basically a duplicate of the first meant to be used in an emergency when the first disk goes bad. In that case, I would think you would need to plug the second disk into the same controller the first disk had been plugged into for it to work. Only thing that makes sense to me but as I said, I've never used RAID and not sure about this.

Hi Yancek,

i have tried on both controllers .. and the result still same.

what is the error meant?
Disk /dev/md0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table
Disk /dev/md2 doesn't contain a valid partition table

Are you still able to boot the original disk?

If so, to try to boot the second disk, change your BIOS to boot second disk first in boot priority. I'm not sure about the error message, never used RAID and not familiar with it.