Topic: RAID Backup Server

[markehle]

Hello, All -

This may or may not have anything to do with SME - I need your input as to what distro is best for this.

I have been given the task of creating a server that will do nothing but handle backing up our other servers.

I have two brand-new 250GB WD IDE drives. I would like to run them raid-1. I would like to use SME, but I would also like to have a separate drive for the operating system.

My questions are:

Can I do this with SME? Or would I be better off with just a vanilla install of redhat?

And -

I have 2 IDE channels to work with. I have read that the two RAID drives should be on separate channels. Can I mount the drive that has the operating system on a channel that has a raid disk on it? Or can I put the raid disks on the same channel (I really don't need screaming performance) and put the OS drive on the other one? From a reliability standpoint, which way would be best?

Someday in the future, I will probably be able to buy a raid controller, but right now, I have to get this going using the MOBO's controller.

Thanks so much -

Mark

[Reinhold]

mark,

SME is perfect for this.

Just install your HDs as hda and hdc (iow ide0,0 and ide1,0)
When you boot from CD SME, will automatically notice the 2 HDs ask and generate a  RAID1 system incl. boot, swap and root...

You will not miss the few MB used for the OS so do yourself a favour and let it also reside on the Raid...

In summary: This explanation is longer than the whole task - just go for it!

Regards
Reinhold

P.S.: Whatever you do later don't go for a cheap Raid controller ...

[mbachmann]

Right, go for it and use Duncan Thomas' backuppc contrib: http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=24320.0

[markehle]

Thanks, Guys - I will whip up an SME backup server!

Later -

Mark

[CKConsulting]

I have several backup servers running SME.
I use a script from "Daniel O'Callagan" that creates a tar file with Daily Incremetals; Weekly Fulls; and Monthly Fulls.  Works Great.  I found a copy of the script here.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=71165&highlight=backups+using+tar
If you search google for "Daniel O'Callagan" you'll find many versions.

Good luck