/boot RAID1

/boot RAID1

[Ninti Systems]

I've set up everything to switch my fresh Slackware 9.1 install on
/dev/hda over to RAID1 devices set up on /dev/hda (currently 'missing')
and /dev/hdc.

Before I switch, I need to check one thing which isn't clear to me from
the Software RAID HowTo:

I currently have a separate partition (/dev/hda1) for /boot. Can this
partition also be switched over to RAID1 (on /dev/md1) or must the /boot
partition always be on a non-RAID device? 

RAID1 support appears to compiled into the Slackware bare.i kernel I am
using. Autodetection on boot is working.

Thanks
Mick

RE: /boot RAID1

[Ninti Systems]

Yes, I've used RedHat for a few years and still like RH9.0 as a desktop
machine. I could set RAID up easily on RedHat but I never really
understood anything much about it, and especially how to manage, tweak,
fix or monitor it later on.

I've tried several distros out as the basis of a server project I'm
working on and have found Slackware 9.1 to be the best all-round
solution in terms of speed, stability and *overall* simplicity.

I'm comfortable on the command line (the server has no GUI) and am
actually keen to learn how to use the command line tools. When I get the
process right, I'll simply script it as much as possible.

:-)


On Wed, 2004-03-31 at 12:36, Guy wrote:
> I can't answer your question, but...
> 
> RedHat 9.0 makes it real easy to configure RAID during the install.
> You can also configure LVM during the install if you want.
> So, no need to do these post-install things you now need to do.
> I am using RedHat 9.0 myself.
> 
> I bet RedHat's Fedora is as easy.
> 
> Guy
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: linux-raid-owner@vger.kernel.org
> [mailto:linux-raid-owner@vger.kernel.org] On Behalf Of Ninti Systems
> Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 9:34 PM
> To: RAID Linux
> Subject: /boot RAID1
> 
> I've set up everything to switch my fresh Slackware 9.1 install on
> /dev/hda over to RAID1 devices set up on /dev/hda (currently 'missing')
> and /dev/hdc.
> 
> Before I switch, I need to check one thing which isn't clear to me from
> the Software RAID HowTo:
> 
> I currently have a separate partition (/dev/hda1) for /boot. Can this
> partition also be switched over to RAID1 (on /dev/md1) or must the /boot
> partition always be on a non-RAID device? 
> 
> RAID1 support appears to compiled into the Slackware bare.i kernel I am
> using. Autodetection on boot is working.
> 
> Thanks
> Mick
> 
> 
> -
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-- 
--------------------------------------
Ninti Systems: Smart IT Solutions
Michael Hall
Mobile: 0429 095 392
Ph/Fax: 08 8953 1442       
Email:  office at ninti dot com dot au
Web:    http://ninti.com.au
--------------------------------------

Re: /boot RAID1

[Daniel Pittman]

On 31 Mar 2004, Ninti Systems wrote:
> I've set up everything to switch my fresh Slackware 9.1 install on
> /dev/hda over to RAID1 devices set up on /dev/hda (currently
> 'missing') and /dev/hdc.
> 
> Before I switch, I need to check one thing which isn't clear to me
> from the Software RAID HowTo:
> 
> I currently have a separate partition (/dev/hda1) for /boot. Can this
> partition also be switched over to RAID1 (on /dev/md1) or must the
> /boot partition always be on a non-RAID device?

It can be RAID1, yes, with some limits.  Specifically, it can be RAID1
because each disk in a RAID1 looks like a stand-alone disk if your
bootloader is unaware of the "RAID" nature of it.

So, old versions of lilo, and grub, can boot off the component of the
RAID1 just fine.  RAID5, though, would stump them.

Modern versions of lilo have some in-built support for RAID1, I hear,
though I have not used that support myself.

       Daniel

-- 
Let the credulous and the vulgar continue to believe that all mental woes can
be cured by a daily application of old Greek myths to their private parts.
        -- Vladimir Nabokov