Weblog entry #1 for bdmx
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#1
Difficulties intalling Debian on Hardware RAID
Posted by bdmx on Thu 8 Mar 2007 at 14:45
Hello,
I'm creating a new file server for test. I choose ECS KN3-SLI2 motherboard because of its chip cost 2 RAID controllers, with an AMD64X2 4200 processor.
I Created 2 arrays :
. 1 for system in RAID 1 with JMB363 controller
. 1 for data in RAID 5 with AMD 590SLI chipset's controller
Vista recognized all with addition of some drivers.
Debian SARGE recognized nothing.
Debian ETCH recognized only the disks independently, but not RAID fonctions (I'm with 5 independant disks, SCSI 3,4,5 for RAID5, SCSI 7 and 8 for RAID1).
I tried to install ETCH on one of the 2 RAID1 disks, hoping on the mirror, but I realized it's of no use. Bypassing the controller, at boot, the RAID doesn't see GRUB start (quite normal).
I know the JMB363 is recognized by the kernel 2.6.18.1, but the latest version of ETCH netinst AMD64 CD boots at least 2.6.18.
I'll try to integrate RAID drivers in Install CD. I'd like to know if there are already parameters in the netinst CD I didn't see, the F7/F8 information is not complete.
JPM
I'm creating a new file server for test. I choose ECS KN3-SLI2 motherboard because of its chip cost 2 RAID controllers, with an AMD64X2 4200 processor.
I Created 2 arrays :
. 1 for system in RAID 1 with JMB363 controller
. 1 for data in RAID 5 with AMD 590SLI chipset's controller
Vista recognized all with addition of some drivers.
Debian SARGE recognized nothing.
Debian ETCH recognized only the disks independently, but not RAID fonctions (I'm with 5 independant disks, SCSI 3,4,5 for RAID5, SCSI 7 and 8 for RAID1).
I tried to install ETCH on one of the 2 RAID1 disks, hoping on the mirror, but I realized it's of no use. Bypassing the controller, at boot, the RAID doesn't see GRUB start (quite normal).
I know the JMB363 is recognized by the kernel 2.6.18.1, but the latest version of ETCH netinst AMD64 CD boots at least 2.6.18.
I'll try to integrate RAID drivers in Install CD. I'd like to know if there are already parameters in the netinst CD I didn't see, the F7/F8 information is not complete.
JPM
Comments on this Entry
Sounds like you've fallen foul of the slowly spreading curse that is "host-based" RAID.
Basically it's Software RAID, wrapped up in a driver, and advertised as "Hardware RAID" because the OS doesn't have direct control over it.
So, to summerise, they sell it as hardware RAID, it's actually (well, nominally) software raid, but it has the benefits of neither, and the negatives of both...
I think that about wraps it up...
Cheers.
[ Parent | Reply to this comment ]
Exactly. Sometimes it is also called 'fakeraid'. More for example on http://linuxmafia.com/faq/Hardware/sata.html#fakeraid
[ Parent | Reply to this comment ]