I've gotten to the Expert Partitioner in Yast on the install disc, but I don't know what to do from there. Listed are 8 devices: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj Size: 232.8 Gb F: Type: BIOS RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj Mount: Mount By: Start: 0 End: 30400 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj_part1 Size: 70.5 Mb F: F Type: DM Raid (Ext3) Mount: /boot Mount By: K Start: 1542 End: 1550 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj_part2 Size: 839.3 Mb F: Type: DM Raid Mount: Mount By: Start: 1435 End: 1541 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj_part3 Size: 221.0 Gb F: F Type: DM Raid (Ext3) Mount: /home Mount By: K Start: 1551 End: 30400 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj_part4 Size: 10.9 Gb F: F Type: DM RAID (Ext3) Mount: / Mount By: K Start: 0 End: 1434 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/mapper/sli_ahahafdeeibj_part5 Size: 831.4 Mb F: Type: DM Raid Mount: swap Mount By: K Start: 1435 End: 1540 Used By: Label: Device ID: Device Path: Device: /dev/hda Size: 232.8 Gb F: Type: ST3250623A Mount: Mount By: Start: 0 End: 30400 Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj Label: Device ID: ata-ST3250623A_4ND4WY67 Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:0 Device: /dev/hdb Size: 232.8 Gb F: Type: WDC-WD2500jB-00REA0 Mount: Mount By: Start: 0 End: 30400 Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj Label: Device ID: ata-WDC_WD2500jB-00REA0_WD-WMANK5725185 Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:1 The /dev/hda is the hard drive that openSUSE is currently installed on. The /dev/hdb is the new hard drive I would like to use as a mirror. I would like to have the entire system mirrored, but I only require the /home to be mirrored, because it contains all of my important data. -Brandon Carl Spleeyah@spleeyah.com www.spleeyah.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "James Tremblay" To: "Brandon Carl" Cc: Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 3:54 PM Subject: Re: [opensuse] Software RAID with existing drive

Brandon, I have played with software raid several times. 1) If you are looking for your whole system in a mirrored state, it's tricky but possible. 2) if you want to build a new mirrored /home that is easier.

1- you can do a reinstall and manually do the partitioning in yast. you will need two equal partitions for /boot but not as mirrors the second is a place holder for rescue and recovery, and two set up as a "linux raid" for each of the sections you want mirrored, i.e, two for swap, two for /, while remembering not to touch your current /home but creating an equal partition for it to raid to later. I would recommend creating a mirrored /srv partition with as much space as you have in /home now when the system is running you can copy your /home into the new /srv in a folder like /srv/storage and then delete and recreate a new linux raid partition for /home. 2- create a software raid using the free space on your current disk and the new disk and mount it as /storage or /vol1 or ....

James Tremblay Director of Technology Newmarket School District Newmarket,NH http://en.opensuse.org/Education "let's make a difference"

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----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Morris (NTM)" To: Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 5:40 PM Subject: Re: [opensuse] Software RAID with existing drive

...

Device: /dev/hda Size: 232.8 Gb F: Type: ST3250623A Mount: Mount By: Start: 0 End: 30400 Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj Label: Device ID: ata-ST3250623A_4ND4WY67 Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:0

Device: /dev/hdb Size: 232.8 Gb F: Type: WDC-WD2500jB-00REA0 Mount: Mount By: Start: 0 End: 30400 Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj Label: Device ID: ata-WDC_WD2500jB-00REA0_WD-WMANK5725185 Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:1

The /dev/hda is the hard drive that openSUSE is currently installed on. The /dev/hdb is the new hard drive I would like to use as a mirror. I would like to have the entire system mirrored, but I only require the /home to be mirrored, because it contains all of my important data. I am not too familiar with the DM RAID, which I think is the fake raid driver for your motherboard (or raid card IIRC from your first post). Assuming that is correct, I wouldn't use it. Software raid now uses the mdadm program instead of raidtools. You could do this, which I am sure would work but will take time. You will need two drives with matching

On 07/08/2007 07:49 AM, Brandon Carl wrote: partition sizes for each raid 1 partition. At the point you are at, I don't think it really matters. If you like the partitioning scheme you have on /dev/hda, match it on /dev/hdb. each partition will need to be marked as Linux Raid. Then, you could create a raid 1 for each partition on /dev/hdb with mdadm with only one disk initially, then format the new raid 1 partitions, then copy from /dev/hda. After copying, you will need to change the partition type of each raided partition on /dev/hda to Linux raid. Then use mdadm to add those partition to your raid 1 partitions from /dev/hdb. This will sync each one in turn. You will then need to edit /etc/fstab to correct your partitions, i.e /dev/hda2 / to /dev/md0 /, etc. You should also edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and correct as necessary (root=/dev/md0, etc), then I would double check everything and reboot. You may or may not need to reinstall Grub, though I probably would via the grub command prompt to triple check it can find everything it needs BEFORE I am booting and it tells me it cannot find..... I have done the above, and it will work. It is a bit of work, and depending on data size will take a while. ALSO, one other thing I just thought about, you would need to add raid1 module to your initrd modules and run mkinitrd to create the raid bootable image. Check out http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-amd64/2006-09/msg00034.html for additional info.

-- Joe Morris Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.2 x86_64

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Ok, I got as far as creating a raid 1 array for each partition on /dev/hdb. I created these: /dev/md0 /dev/hdb1 / /dev/md1 /dev/hdb3 /home /dev/md2 /dev/hdb5 swap Those were the three partitions on the /dev/hda, and they are the exact same size as the ones on /dev/hda, and even start and end at the same cylinders. I didn't know what to do about the extended partition on /dev/hda which was used for the swap space, I assume. I created the exact same things on /dev/hdb, including extended partition. Now, I don't know what to do. I mount the /dev/md0 as /mnt/raid0, and I can see all the files on it that must have been copied over when I tried the hardware RAID card. It is the exact same thing as my "/" directory. I created a new folder under "/" just to make sure, and it didn't show up in the /dev/md0, so that's good. When I tried to mount /dev/md1 as /mnt/raid1, it gives me an error: "mount: Operation not supported". So I don't know what that means. Also, it won't let me mount the /dev/md2 because it says it looks like swap space, which it is. Now, I don't know how to format the new raid 1 partitions on /dev/hdb so i can copy my data over. And thanks for your help, Joe. -Brandon -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Brandon Carl wrote:
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Morris (NTM)"
> 
> To: 
> Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 5:40 PM
> Subject: Re: [opensuse] Software RAID with existing drive
>
>
>> On 07/08/2007 07:49 AM, Brandon Carl wrote:
>>> Device: /dev/hda
>>> Size: 232.8 Gb
>>> F:
>>> Type: ST3250623A
>>> Mount:
>>> Mount By:
>>> Start: 0
>>> End: 30400
>>> Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj
>>> Label:
>>> Device ID: ata-ST3250623A_4ND4WY67
>>> Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:0
>>>
>>> Device: /dev/hdb
>>> Size: 232.8 Gb
>>> F:
>>> Type: WDC-WD2500jB-00REA0
>>> Mount:
>>> Mount By:
>>> Start: 0
>>> End: 30400
>>> Used By: RAID sli_ahahafdeeibj
>>> Label:
>>> Device ID: ata-WDC_WD2500jB-00REA0_WD-WMANK5725185
>>> Device Path: pci-0000:00:0f.0-ide-0:1
>>>
>>>
>>> The /dev/hda is the hard drive that openSUSE is currently installed on.
>>> The /dev/hdb is the new hard drive I would like to use as a mirror.
>>> I would like to have the entire system mirrored, but I only require
>>> the /home to be mirrored, because it contains all of my important data.
>> I am not too familiar with the DM RAID, which I think is the fake raid
>> driver for your motherboard (or raid card IIRC from your first post).
>> Assuming that is correct, I wouldn't use it.  Software raid now uses the
>> mdadm program instead of raidtools.  You could do this, which I am sure
>> would work but will take time.  You will need two drives with matching
>> partition sizes for each raid 1 partition.  At the point you are at, I
>> don't think it really matters.  If you like the partitioning scheme you
>> have on /dev/hda, match it on /dev/hdb.  each partition will need to be
>> marked as Linux Raid.  Then, you could create a raid 1 for each
>> partition on /dev/hdb with mdadm with only one disk initially, then
>> format the new raid 1 partitions, then copy from /dev/hda.  After
>> copying, you will need to change the partition type of each raided
>> partition on /dev/hda to Linux raid.  Then use mdadm to add those
>> partition to your raid 1 partitions from /dev/hdb.  This will sync each
>> one in turn.  You will then need to edit /etc/fstab to correct your
>> partitions, i.e /dev/hda2 / to /dev/md0 /, etc.  You should also edit
>> /boot/grub/menu.lst and correct as necessary (root=/dev/md0, etc), then
>> I would double check everything and reboot.  You may or may not need to
>> reinstall Grub, though I probably would via the grub command prompt to
>> triple check it can find everything it needs BEFORE I am booting and it
>> tells me it cannot find.....  I have done the above, and it will work.
>> It is a bit of work, and depending on data size will take a while.
>> ALSO, one other thing I just thought about, you would need to add raid1
>> module to your initrd modules and run mkinitrd to create the raid
>> bootable image.  Check out
>> http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-amd64/2006-09/msg00034.html for
>> additional info.
>>
>> -- 
>> Joe Morris
>> Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.2 x86_64
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org
>> For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org
>>
>>
>>
>
> Ok, I got as far as creating a raid 1 array for each partition on
> /dev/hdb.
>
> I created these:
> /dev/md0  /dev/hdb1  /
> /dev/md1  /dev/hdb3  /home
> /dev/md2  /dev/hdb5  swap
>
> Those were the three partitions on the /dev/hda, and they are the
> exact same size as the ones on /dev/hda, and even start and end at the
> same cylinders.
> I didn't know what to do about the extended partition on /dev/hda
> which was used for the swap space, I assume.  I created the exact same
> things on /dev/hdb, including extended partition.
>
> Now, I don't know what to do.  I mount the /dev/md0 as /mnt/raid0, and
> I can see all the files on it that must have been copied over when I
> tried the hardware RAID card.  It is the exact same thing as my "/"
> directory.  I created a new folder under "/" just to make sure, and it
> didn't show up in the /dev/md0, so that's good.
> When I tried to mount /dev/md1 as /mnt/raid1, it gives me an error:
> "mount: Operation not supported".  So I don't know what that means.
> Also, it won't let me mount the /dev/md2 because it says it looks like
> swap space, which it is.
>
> Now, I don't know how to format the new raid 1 partitions on /dev/hdb
> so i can copy my data over.
>
> And thanks for your help, Joe.
>
> -Brandon
The way I did it is
Using Yast
1) Partition disks, leaving 3 cylinders for /boot
2) Create one large RAID array over all disks
3) Used LVM to create desired partition structure, including SWAP
4) Finished installation of SUSE.

In a RAID 5 array, you want SWAP included, as if it fails without RAID
your system will die anyway.  So, in my system, everything except /boot
is on RAID.  And while I haven't done it yet, I could replicate /boot
across all 4 drives, so that I can always reboot, with any drive down.


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----- Original Message ----- From: "Carlos E. R." To: "OS-en" Sent: Saturday, July 07, 2007 6:44 PM Subject: Re: [opensuse] Software RAID with existing drive

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

The Saturday 2007-07-07 at 15:02 -0700, Brandon Carl wrote:

...

I recently installed a IDE RAID card (Syba Ultra ATA IDE card SILO680) in my linux box and mirrored one of my drives (250Gb) to another 250Gb drive. When this was done, I tried to boot into openSUSE 10.2 and it kept stalling at "waiting for /dev/hda1 to appear." I then decided to just try and boot from my original hard drive, and it stalled on "opensuse hangs runaway loop modprobe binfmt-ffff." I thought that was very odd, so I took out the RAID card and tried to just boot from my one hdd, and it worked, thankfully.

Now I am wondering if there is a software alternative to RAID 1 that i can use with my existing hard drive. I have about 100Gb of irreplaceable data under the "/home/spleeyah/" directory, which is on a seperate partition from the "/" directory.

I would like to be able to just copy this drive over to the other one and then set it up as a RAID 1 configuration, but I cannot find any information about how to set this up using Yast or any other tools. I found this tutorial: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-HOWTO.html but when I try to find "raidtools" in my software management, it doesn't show up. This is an internet installation with my repository set as: ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/opensuse/distribution/10.2/repo/oss/.

I think you got it wrong.

To create a raid 1 setup, first you need to empty disks, or two empty partitions on two disks. Next you create the raid, and finally you copy over the data.

However, if what you have is a lot of important files, it is way safer to have two separate disks (better three disks), and simply copy everything from one to the other, then disconect (and power off) or at least umount the second. Notice that if on a raid setup you delete something or have a bad software crash both mirror copies will be damaged. Raid doesn't protect your valuable data from all mishaps: only a few kinds of mishaps, like some hardware failures.

Ie, a good backup procedure is safer than just raid.

- -- Cheers, Carlos E. R.

I do have two seperate 250Gb drives that I want to be mirrored exactly. I know it's no replacement for backing up data, but that's not what I'm concerned about. This server is not in the coolest of environments, and I have a feeling the old hard drive may give out sometime soon, so I want another hard drive to replace that when it does happen. I think I might have it with the mdadm commands, I'm trying right now. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On Sun, 2007-07-08 at 03:44 +0200, Carlos E. R. wrote:

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE----- Hash: SHA1

The Saturday 2007-07-07 at 15:02 -0700, Brandon Carl wrote:

...

I recently installed a IDE RAID card (Syba Ultra ATA IDE card SILO680) in my linux box and mirrored one of my drives (250Gb) to another 250Gb drive. When this was done, I tried to boot into openSUSE 10.2 and it kept stalling at "waiting for /dev/hda1 to appear." I then decided to just try and boot from my original hard drive, and it stalled on "opensuse hangs runaway loop modprobe binfmt-ffff." I thought that was very odd, so I took out the RAID card and tried to just boot from my one hdd, and it worked, thankfully.

Now I am wondering if there is a software alternative to RAID 1 that i can use with my existing hard drive. I have about 100Gb of irreplaceable data under the "/home/spleeyah/" directory, which is on a seperate partition from the "/" directory.

I would like to be able to just copy this drive over to the other one and then set it up as a RAID 1 configuration, but I cannot find any information about how to set this up using Yast or any other tools. I found this tutorial: http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Software-RAID-HOWTO.html but when I try to find "raidtools" in my software management, it doesn't show up. This is an internet installation with my repository set as: ftp://mirrors.kernel.org/opensuse/distribution/10.2/repo/oss/.

I think you got it wrong.

To create a raid 1 setup, first you need to empty disks, or two empty partitions on two disks. Next you create the raid, and finally you copy over the data.

However, if what you have is a lot of important files, it is way safer to have two separate disks (better three disks), and simply copy everything from one to the other, then disconect (and power off) or at least umount the second. Notice that if on a raid setup you delete something or have a bad software crash both mirror copies will be damaged. Raid doesn't protect your valuable data from all mishaps: only a few kinds of mishaps, like some hardware failures.

Ie, a good backup procedure is safer than just raid.

I've never used RAID but I was under the impression that RAID 1 and disk failure was terminal, but the ones that use parity drives allow for the rebuilding of the data drive if one gets hosed. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

On 07/08/2007 10:27 AM, Brandon Carl wrote:

Incorrect, with RAID 1, you have two partitions, or complete drives in my case, that are exactly the same, both written to at the same time with the same data. If one drive fails, the other drive is there until you replace the hosed drive and rebuild the array by copying the data to the replacement. Almost correct. At least with Linux software RAID, and I am pretty sure with any RAID, once you replace the disk it automatically syncs the other disk, no need to copy or format. You do need to partition it correctly size wise and type.

-- Joe Morris Registered Linux user 231871 running openSUSE 10.2 x86_64 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Brandon Carl wrote:

Incorrect, with RAID 1, you have two partitions, or complete drives in my case, that are exactly the same, both written to at the same time with the same data. If one drive fails, the other drive is there until you replace the hosed drive and rebuild the array by copying the data to the replacement. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID1#RAID_1

-Brandon

One thing I find annoying is that SUSE 10.2 requires a reboot to add a removed drive back on. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Joe Morris (NTM) wrote:

On 07/08/2007 07:57 PM, James Knott wrote:

...

One thing I find annoying is that SUSE 10.2 requires a reboot to add a removed drive back on.

If you are talking about software raid 1, that is not the case. I have done it without a reboot. IIRC, I had to tell it the partition was failed first before I could readd, but it did work. In that situation, I felt it was not the drive failing but either a cable or controller hiccup.

I'm running RAID 5 and if I use mdadm to remove the drive, I can add it back in again. However, if I physically remove the drive, even when removed from the array with mdadm, I have to reboot to get it added back in again. There was some discussion about this a few weeks ago. -- Use OpenOffice.org http://www.openoffice.org -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org