RAID-1 / After the server's already running!

Metal-X-Man · 03-18-2005, 01:06 PM

I need some advise because I'm a rookie at Linux.

Hardware/Software:
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Suse 9.2 Professional
(1) 120MB SATA HDD
512MB DDS RAM
PHP 4.3.8
Apache/2.0.50 (Linux/SUSE)
MySQL 4.0.21
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Now that I have my server up and running, I realize that I need to add RAID-1. My motherboard will allow me to run the two SATA Drives, not a third. I have the identical HDD and I'm ready to install it.

I had a company help me set up the server. Is there an easy way to save my setup? I can backup the data itself. Im afraid I'll have to do a fresh install.

Thanks in advance!

Metal-X

Thoreau · 03-19-2005, 10:04 PM

You should have configured RAID 1 mirroring before the install, but you can mirror the drive if you have a 3ware or LSI brand RAID card. It's a simple matter of adding it via the RAID cards bios.

If you don't have a kernel native card and have to implement software RAID, then you would have to install the RAID tools package on linux and then RAID it out that way. You should be OK either way, but the correct way is to use a 3ware or LSI or other kernel native card, and install your OS after setting up the RAID config. Current situation, just read up on the RAID tools package and mirror it out after you do a full backup. Good luck.

Metal-X-Man · 03-20-2005, 10:19 AM

Thoreau,

Thanks for the reply! Is this the difference between software RAID, and hardware RAID (adding the 3ware card)? My server doesn't have a RAID controller currently.

I looked at the 3ware site, and specifically at these cards:
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[8006-2LP] - Up to 2 Serial ATA 0,1, JBOD - (Workstations,Gaming)
[8506-4LP] - Up to 4 Serial ATA 0,1,10,5, J - (BOD Departmental Servers,Video Editing)
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I'll follow their support for adding the card to my Linux box. If I understand you right, there's a migration method (transferring existing data & setup) adding RAID with the 3ware products?

Thanks for your help!

Metal-X

Thoreau · 03-20-2005, 02:58 PM

The difference between software and hardware RAID are just that. Like winmodem versus a hardware modem. 3ware, LSI, ArcoRAID, etc. are all PATA/SATA hardware RAID cards that have linux drivers in the kernel and are hardware bios level RAID.

Promise, Silicon Image, and 24 other Taiwanese creations are all software RAID. It uses your CPU and your drivers to actually create the RAID and to read/write to it.

Yes, those 3ware cards are fine. Oddly enough, they cost the same or maybe 20 bucks more than Promise- so I don't get why people would ever use them.

To backup your data, mount a network drive. If you are sharing partition C:\backup on another winbox, then set the share as administrator/password. Mount in linux like so:

As root,
mkdir /mnt/backup
mount -t smbfs -o username=administrator,password=password //winbox/backup /mnt/backup

Yast, System, System backup, local drive(/mnt/backup)

Do a full System backup to that drive. And be happy.

Metal-X-Man · 03-20-2005, 06:54 PM

Thoreau!

Thanks for the info. I'll post the final results. I'll pickup the 3ware 8506-4LP (RAID 0,1, 10, 5) this week and get work on it. I want to turn this server on live in two weeks.

Once again...thanks for guiding this rookie! It's been a while since I used Linux. It'll take a year or so to get back up to speed.

Metal-X-Man · 03-25-2005, 07:10 PM

Thoreau,

I ended up with a Rocketraid 1520 card. I installed the card, hardware, etc. and ran the BIOS setup on the card.

Problem is, I'm getting a "kernel panic - not syncing: Attempting to kill init!" on my boot, then the system locks up.

I think I'm missing a step somewhere. I went into the system BIOS and had the system boot from the RAID. The RAID BIOS, disk 1 is set to boot, but nothing.

I've been beating my brains out trying to figure this out. I'm going to have to pull the card back out and run the single drive again until I can figure this out.

Metal-X

Thoreau · 03-26-2005, 07:42 PM

Highpoint is software RAID. You said you were getting a 3ware card.

You have to configure the highpoint driver(if possible) and software RAID tools with the one drive plugged into a standard IDE port. The you can reboot with the IDE drive on the software RAID card. Then you can add the secondary hard drive to the RAID controller after that and mirror it with software.

That error means the kernel can't see the card. AKA no drivers have been configured for that card.

Metal-X-Man · 03-26-2005, 08:28 PM

Now (for sure) I know the difference. I pulled the card out and reboxed it...it's going back. Just trying to save a buck. BIG difference in the cost by the way.

My systems back up and running on the single drive. System BIOS restored to original.

I'll shop the different TRUE hardware RAID cards. Hopefully I'll get one for under $200US. Thanks for the note and your patience during my learning process.

George

Thoreau · 03-26-2005, 08:54 PM

8006-2LP is $128 at ewiz.com. ROcketRaid is 55 bucks. Yea, it's a big difference. But considering you paid 55 for nothing, then that makes an even bigger difference in the opposite direction. Good luck.

Metal-X-Man · 03-26-2005, 09:25 PM

Thoreau,

Actually I paid $65 for the 1520 RocketRaid locally, but that's fully refundable and going back to the store in the morning! No loss there.

Here's what I ordered:
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HDC 3WARE ESCALAD8006-2LP SATA RAID
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Now I have it right (finally)! My AMD 64 2800+ will be a lot happier with the hardware RAID. At least I learned a thing or two about kernel panic!

Thanks - I've got it from here!

Metal-X-Man