Transferring two RAID arrays
 

I currently run a RH9 server with two RAID arrays on it. The first RAID array is a software RAID (1) of two identical disks on the onboard IDE controller. The second RAID array is somewhat strange. It's connected to a Highpoint HPT100 controller and in it's BIOS set up as a mirroring RAID. Although RH detected the RAID, I still had to make a softraid from it. Now I want to transfer the four harddrives and the controller to my other system, running the a fully updated Gentoo (2.6 kernel). Can I just do this, or will I run into problems?

Problem is, I can't back up all the data on the arrays, so there's quite a risk involved. Perhaps anybody can give me some tips on how to do this?

No. Your software RAID(that's what HighPoint is) only works on the listed distributions:

http://www.highpoint-tech.com/USA/brr100.htm

Suse, RedHat, Caldera(now defunct), and Turbolinux.

You may be able to use generic kernel drivers for it though. It is very very risky to get to work though, in my experience.


These chipsets are supported by the linux kernel:

http://www.linux-ide.org/chipsets.html

Yours is not one of them. So you would be SOL in this case.

If you have data that you really must keep, and want to use IDE/SATA on linux the only real option is this:

http://www.3ware.com/products/parallel_ata.asp

The drivers are open sourced and in the kernel proper. It also does hardware raid rather than software, so it's not dependent upon any OS to rebuild itself or maintain integrity. In either case, I'm sorry, but I don't see a way. Maybe somebody else has a better detailed suggestion to offer you.

OK, thanx.

Transffering the Linux software RAID array (md0) shouldn't be any problem, right? Even not from 2.4 to 2.6?

Than I guess I just have to make another software array of the other array and connect it to the onboard Promise controller of the new server..