Typically when I set up a RAID 1, I partition the drives first (with AutoRAID partition type) then I put them in the array.

BUT, I have built arrays with un-partitioned drives and then put the partition on top of the array.

Any opinions on method is better and why?

Read this.

Dup deleted

In the datacenter, partitions indicate that the disk or LUN is in use, and if the partition type is correct, it documents what's installed on top of the partition. This is great to prevent storage teams from reusing a disk or LUN that looks empty (i.e. isn't partitioned), and it helps a newly hired sysadmin to understand what a given disk is used for.

At home, it may not matter, since it's always the same person who manages the system. But even then you might have a server that you leave alone for a few years, then don't remember what's on it. Again, partitioning helps.

Finally, there might be tools that expect partitioned disks and correct partition types.

In short, with partitions, you lose no performance and practically no disk space, and you gain clarity.

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