Install additional drive(s)

TopTrainer

TopTrainer

TopTrainer

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Hi

I have a linux server which runs 24/7 the OS is Fedora7/8 I think (i did not build it) anyway it runs flawlessly through 500g x 2 in raid 0.

I am nearing the full mark now and I would like to install maybe two additional drives.

Is that just a question of putting them in the box?

What impact if any, would that have on the raid 0 setup?

What do I need to do to get this up and running?

Please keep advice simple as my linux knowledge is very limited.

I am also considering the purchase of a synology NAS too advice would be very welcome either way.

Pete
 
Hey,

You would just need to physically install the 2 hard drives start the machine up and go into the RAID BIOS and add either another RAID_1 or RAID_0.

Essentially if you want to expand your exisiting RAID_0 you should be able to reconstruct in the RAID BIOS aswell not sure what the option would be in your BIOS but something along that line.

Ayman
 
Thanks for your reply. Not really to sure about raid bios, not even sure how to get to it.

Reconstructing the existing raid 0 has got a complicated sound to it with the worry of losing data.

If I just put the drives in as seperate drives and booted up the server would that work?

What about the samba side of things would they automatically be recognised?


Peter
 
Do you REALLY need the performance from RAID 0?

I would recommend backing up your data, rebuilding it as RAID 1 (or better) with all 4 drives, then restoring your data onto the new array.
 
Hi Masterluke

Thank you for your reply, I have never known anything other than the setting of raid 0. would any other setting be a lot slower then?

I am not confident on the re-building process, what is the procedure for re-building the raid?

I can back up the data easily enough but im not sure about the technicalities of re- building the raid.

Peter
 
TopTrainer said:
Thank you for your reply, I have never known anything other than the setting of raid 0. would any other setting be a lot slower then?
Click to expand...

How did you setup the raid? Are you using your motherboard or linux? lvm/dm-raid?

If you're not too sure what raid0 is, you probably shouldnt be using it, it's fairly dangerous for your data, and is not actually RAID (raid = redundant array of inexpensive disks. And raid 0 is not redundant, quite the contrary...)

I think you're better off not using raid0 on a 24/7 server, use raid1 or no raid level, have a look at LVM.
 
Hi Brendan

Thanks for your reply, I did not build this server or set it up.I know its raid 0 and also Fedora and thats about it.

As far as the LVM goes and DM raid I know nothing. So advice would be gratefully appreciated.
It is a 24/7 server. I do need to add storage to it as a matter of urgency.
 
It's along shot... but have you considered getting the person, who did build the server, to update it for you?

I would say getting bigger/more drives and rebuilding a RAID array would be cheaper?
 
TopTrainer said:
Hi Brendan

Thanks for your reply, I did not build this server or set it up.I know its raid 0 and also Fedora and thats about it.

As far as the LVM goes and DM raid I know nothing. So advice would be gratefully appreciated.
It is a 24/7 server. I do need to add storage to it as a matter of urgency.
Click to expand...

can you give the output of `mount` and `cat /proc/mdstat`?
 
TopTrainer said:
Brendan

By the output do you mean the size ? I am not sure what the cat/proc/mdstat is?

T.T
Click to expand...

I mean when you type those in a terminal and press enter, what the output of the command is.

/proc/mdstat returns the status of an md raid if present. For example on my server here is what it returns:

Code: 
[brendan@newgate ~]$ cat /proc/mdstat 
Personalities : [raid1] 
md0 : active raid1 sdc1[1] sda1[0]
      1953511936 blocks [2/2] [UU]
 
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