Re: [LIH] Debian, root RAID install

[RaghuNath L <raghul@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Raju,

thanx for your posting, it very informative.

Raju Mathur wrote:

> Hi Archan,
>
> Making RAID-1 (mirror) devices is quite straightforward.  Here's the
> procedure you apply:
>
> 1.  Make identical size partitions on 2 hard disks, say sda5 and sdb5.
> If the partitions aren't the same size, the RAID partition will be the
> size of the smaller one, leaving some space unused (wasted) on the
> larger partition.  Make the partition types FD (linux RAID
> autodetect).
>
> 2.  Reboot after fdisk :)
>
> 3.  Install a new kernel (2.4.x) which has the RAID-0.90 code.  I
> prefer to put RAID-1 in the kernel; however you can make it a module
> if you like (and use a ramdisk boot image if you're doing this for
> your root partition).  Boot with the new kernel.
>
> 4.  Install the raidtools for 0.90.  Old raidtools will NOT work with
> the new RAID code in the kernel.  On Debian, the package is called
> raidtools2, forgotten what it's called on RH ;-)
>
> 5.  Create /etc/raidtab.  I usually:
>
>     man raidtab | col -b > /etc/raidtab ; vi /etc/raidtab
>
> and then edit out everything, just leaving the the sample RAID
> configuration.  Edit the device partition names for your
> configuration.  Enable persistent superblock.
>
> You could also create raidtab from scratch, it's not tough -- just
> boring.
>
> 6.  mkraid --really-force /dev/md0 (assuming you called your RAID
> device md0 in /etc/raidtab).  Your logical RAID device is now ready
> for use.
>
> 7.  RAID will now start syncing the 2 disks in the background, and the
> system may appear sluggish until the syncing is finished.  You can see
> the status of the device and the sync progress with:
>
>     cat /proc/mdstat
>
> Sync typically takes 5-30 minutes depending on the size of the
> RAID device and the speed of the disks.  If you ever switch off your
> computer without a proper shutdown, the disks will be sync'ed again.
>
> 8.  mke2fs /dev/md0 (or mkreiserfs or mkfatfs or whatever).  You can
> do this while the sync is going on, though it might be a bit slow.  If
> you're the patient type, go have a cup of tea/call your
> girlfriend/meditate and run the command after the sync is over.
>
> Warning: using Reiserfs on RAID needs special kernel patches.
>
> 9.  mount /dev/md0 /raid-directory (choose your directories/device
> appropriately).
>
> 10. Put an entry for the RAID device in /etc/fstab.  It'll be just
> like any other fstab entry, except the device will be /dev/md? instead
> of /dev/sd?? or /dev/hd?? .
>
> 11. [OPTIONAL] Send me a vegetarian pizza.  I prefer Domino's veggie
> deluxe deep dish with twisty bread -- you can skip the cheesy dip if
> you're feeling broke-ish ;-)
>
> CC'ing this to LIH and LD to enhance pizza inflow :-)
>
> Regards,
>
> -- Raju
>
> >>>>> "Archan" == archan  <devrootp@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
>
>     Archan> Hi Raju, any special tricks u applied? or it is straight
>     Archan> forward...
>
>     Archan> archan devrootp@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
>     Archan> Raju Mathur wrote:
>
>     >> Hi Archan,
>     >>
>     >> I found out to my discomfort the hard way :)
>     >>
>     >> Anyway, the choice was between Debian and RH, I went with
>     >> Debian anyway.  Installed RAID after the system came up.
>     >>
>     >> Regards,
>     >>
>     >> -- Raju
>     >>
>     >>>>>>> "archan" == archan <devrootp@xxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> >>>>>
>     >>
>     archan> Raju Mathur wrote:
>     >> >> Will Debian 2.2 allow me to install on a root RAID
>     >> partition?  >> E.g. RH gives me the facility to define a
>     >> software RAID >> partition at install time and install my / on
>     >> that.  Anything >> equivalent for Debian (2.2)?
>     >>
>     archan> By default NO!!!!
>     >>  >> If the answer's Yes, there're these 8 machines I have to >>
>     >> install Linux on tomorrow, and guess which distribution will >>
>     >> get installed? :-)
>     >>
>     archan> Best is Mandrake7.2 .... :) By default it will ....
>     >>
>     archan> archan devrootp@xxxxxxxxxxx
>
> --
> Raju Mathur          raju@xxxxxxxxxxxxx          http://kandalaya.org/
>
> ----------------------------------------------
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--
Regards                       ph:5099025
RaghuNath L                   pager:9624395369
WSS-Team,Texas Instruments India.
     You have to live on the edge of reality -
     to make your dreams come true!!!