[arch-general] Installing Arch Linux w/ RAID

[toomanymirrors]

On Tue, 2009-10-27 at 12:23 -0400, Carlos Williams wrote:
> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 8:27 AM, Xavier <shiningxc at gmail.com> wrote:
> > If you want to be constructive, create a wiki page only about raid, if
> > there isn't already one.
> >
> > And you have to figure out which strange modifications are needed and
> > why, try finding the real problem, and report it on the bug tracker.
> 
> I guess I will just explain what I am doing in detail. If anyone can
> please take some time and review my steps in accordance to what you
> know to be successful, please let me know. I am so badly trying to get
> this working on Arch.
> 
> 1. Boot from the 2009.08 Netinst / Live CD
> 
> 2. Login as root (no password) in the live environment
> 
> 3. Add the required modules for RAID by running the following commands:
>    - modprobe raid0
>    - modprobe raid1
>    - modprobe raid5
> 
> 4. I run the 'cfdisk' utility to partition my two identical drives for
> RAID1 use:
>    - cfdisk /dev/sda
>    *sda1 = boot --- Primary --- Linux --- 2048 (MB)
>    *sda2 = root --- Primary  --- Linux --- 40960 (MB)
>    *sda3 = raid --- Primary --- Linux raid --- 102400 (MB)
> 
>    *sdb1 = swap --- Primary --- Linux swap --- 2048 (MB)
>    *sdb2 = /etc ---   Primary --- Linux --- 40960 (MB)
>    *sdb3 = raid --- Primary  ---- Linux raid --- 102400 (MB)
> 
> 5. I then run the command to build my RAID mirror for /dev/sda3 &
> /dev/sdb3 which will be used for /home.
>    mdadm --create --verbose /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2
> /dev/sda3 /dev/sdb3
> 
> 6. On the Arch Wiki page I skip the entire section under "Setup LVM
> and Create the / (root) LVM Volume" since I don't want LVM, just RAID.
> 
> 7. On the Arch Wiki page I skip the entire "OPTIONAL" section  under
> "Create and Mount the Filesystems" since the installer wont let you
> skiip this section even if you already did it via command line ahead
> of time. It looks like this must be done via /arch/setup.
> 
> 8. I run the following command in the command line of the Live CD:
>    rm /etc/mdadm.conf
>    mdadm –D –-scan >> /etc/mdadm.conf
> 
> 9. Verify the step I did in # 8 above:
>   cat /etc/mdadm.conf
>   ARRAY /dev/md0 level=raid1 num-devices=2 metadata=0.90
> UUID=6beb1da7:823eed3e:42odcjij
> 
> 10. Type /arch/setup to launch the main installer.
> 
> 11. From the installer menu run the option 1 = Select Source = net
> 
> 12. Setup Network
> 
> 13. Choose Mirror
> 
> 14. Set up the clock
> 
> 15. Prepare Hard Drive(s) menu I skip the Manually partition hard
> drives section since I already did this in 'cfdisk' above and select
> option #3 for "Manually Configure block devices / filesystems &
> mountpoints.
> 
>  - /dev/sda1 = ext3 mounted on /boot
>  - /dev/sda2 = ext3 mounted on /
> 
>  - /dev/sdb1 = swap
>  - /dev/sdb2 = ext3 mount on /etc
> 
>  - /dev/md0 = ext3 mounted /home
> 
> 16. Install packages - I install all base group packages and nothing
> more except 'openssh-server * sudo'.
> 
> 17. Configure System:
> 
>  - I edit the rc.conf file to have my "hostname" and nothing else. I
> leave LVM=no as it is by default.
>  - I edit the mkinitcpio.conf and add 'mdadm' on the "HOOKS" line
> before "filesystems" as noted in the Wiki.
>  - Check /etc/resolv.conf
>  - Check /etc/hosts file for correct info
>  - Root-Password - change root password for new system
>  - Select "Done / Return to Main Menu"
> 
> 18. Do I skip "Install Bootloader" from Main Menu installer? The Wiki
> shows directions to do this manually however my / and /boot partitions
> are not on RAID, just my /home partition. Do I need to follow the
> method the Wiki suggests for Grub install manually -vs- automated
> install on /dev/sda?
> 
> Please let me know what you think!

I believe you need to add md-mod and raid1 to your rc.conf modules line.
I would suggest using the installer to configure grub since /boot and /
are not on raid partitions.