On 01/21/2010 05:38 AM, Baho Utot wrote:
This is not an answer to your question directly...
I have hardware raid on my desktop but I use software raid, raid5 and raid 1 arrays using mdadm.
The reason I don't use the on board raid or a hardware raid is that the different manufactures use different methods causing problems when you want move the array to another system or the raid card fails. Then you usally lose the entire raid array. With software raid you can move the raid to another system and it uses whatever stat hardware that is in the system.. ie lose the stata card just install another one and you are good.
To replace a failed drive with software raid all that needs to be done is to fail the drive using mdadm then physical remove and replace the drive. Then use sfdisk to copy the partition setup from one of the drives in the raid to the new drive. After the partitioning is complete add the drive to the array using mdadm and your done. All that you need to do is to monitor the rebuilding by a simple cat /proc/mdstat.
Baho, Thanks. I am arriving at that conclusion as well. Currently I have 6 onboard raid sets and 4 software sets. I have had good luck replacing failed disks with both in the past. I agree mdraid is much more flexible than dmraid and from the testing I've done between fake-raid and software raid there is 0 (zero) performance difference between the two. I'll let you know how this replacement goes. I'm in the process or copying partitions with gparted as we speak... -- David C. Rankin, J.D.,P.E. Rankin Law Firm, PLLC 510 Ochiltree Street Nacogdoches, Texas 75961 Telephone: (936) 715-9333 Facsimile: (936) 715-9339 www.rankinlawfirm.com