[SOLVED] Accessing software RAID1 array in dual-boot environment (mdadm)

antennae · 10-15-2018, 06:44 AM

I have a Centos 7 server running a soft RAID for my mass storage. OS is located on a separate (non-RAID) disk. I am preparing for a new OS install side-by-side in an unused partition and intend to go back and forth for a while in order to migrate years worth of custom configs. Is it possible, and recommended, to use mdadm to detect and setup the same array in my new OS partition without upsetting the existing configuration in the existing OS? Can I go back and forth and interact with the md without corrupting anything?

mrmazda · 10-17-2018, 11:12 PM

I have two multiboot installations using RAID1, one with three installations sharing 8 md devices, one with four sharing 6 md devices. On each machine, I use the same mdadm.conf for every installation. Only the fstabs differ, according to which is booted. Boot on both is initiated from Grub Legacy on a primary partition hosting copies of the installed kernels and initrds.

antennae · 10-19-2018, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrmazda

I have two multiboot installations using RAID1

Fantastic, thanks for sharing your setup and confirming it works. I will dive in head first.