Topic: Dual Hard Drives

[Agent86]

I'm not sure if this is the correct location for this question ?

Anyhow I know that SME has Raid support but what about just plugging in to IDE hard drives of the same size and model ?

One as master, one as slave , can these be mirrored so that I have a backup if one drive fails ?

Please advise

Thanks

[byte]

Snip from the manual...

4.3. Hard Drive Configuration
SME Server 7 introduses a new feature – Automatic configuration of Software RAID 1, 5 or 6. RAID is a way of storing data on more than one hard drive at once, so that if one drive fails, the system will still function. In the case of RAID 6, two drives can fail and the system will still function. We highly recommend that at a minimum you utilize 2 identical drives in your sytem to take advantage of the redundancy provided by the RAID configuration.

[pfloor]

Mirroring drives in the same IDE channel (eg. hda and hdb) is not desirable.  If that channel goes out, you may loose both drives.  Also, performance will suffer slightly.

The preferred method is to use the master location on each IDE channel (eg. hda and hdc).  This will ensure that if you loose one channel, the other will still operate.  It will also give you the best performance.

In 2 drive setups I always do this:

IDE 1 Master - Drive1
IDE 1 Slave - CDROM
IDE 2 Master - Drive 2

[Agent86]

This is very helpful Thanks

What will happen now that I have a hard drive on my at IDE primary master, and then hook up my IDE secondary master

Will SME automatically start to sync the data on both drives ?

Or is there some other steps I need to take ?

Please advise
Thanks

[Agent86]

Can someone please confirm this subject further regarding IDE drives

I currently have one in the system and desire to plug another in as secondary master as directed in this post ?

What must be done so the drives sync identically so if one fails the other continues to operate ?

Please advise
Thanks

[pfloor]

It should work automagically as long as you didn't originally install with the "noraid" option.

-Shut down the machine
-Install drive as master on the second IDE channel (hdc)
-Boot up
-Log on as admin to get to the admin console
-Go to #5 Manage disk redundency

It should tell you there if the drives are syncing up.  Don't turn off the server until the sync is complete or it will start from the beginning again.  When it is done syncing it will show a good working raid1.

If it doesn't work then file a bug report but I think all the raid issues have been fixed.

[Agent86]

It should work automagically as long as you didn't originally install with the "noraid" option.

-Shut down the machine
-Install drive as master on the second IDE channel (hdc)
-Boot up
-Log on as admin to get to the admin console
-Go to #5 Manage disk redundency

It should tell you there if the drives are syncing up.  Don't turn off the server until the sync is complete or it will start from the beginning again.  When it is done syncing it will show a good working raid1.

If it doesn't work then file a bug report but I think all the raid issues have been fixed.

Wow fast response, thanks

Well I don't remember if I selected noraid on install ? I mean I don't have a raid device that I know of. I believe the standard IDE controller built onto the Dell Motherboard of a OptiPlex GX110 ?

So I may have selected noraid or perhaps it was selected by default ?

How can I check ?

Thanks for the help

[pfloor]

You would have had to have typed it in manually at the command line and the option was not obvious until 7.1 anyway.  It was always there but kind of hidden before 7.1.

[Agent86]

Hi and thanks

So to conclude I do have 7.1 semi fresh installation and do not recall specifically selecting this, but I have a second computer I can run the setup to see if it rings any bells.

Then I should be sure if I have installed with noraid selection or any such ?

If there is any way for me to check this or a command to test for this setting please advise

Thanks

[william_syd]

If there is any way for me to check this or a command to test for this setting please advise

Thanks

Server console (admin login), Manage Disk Redundency

What does that display ?

[bpivk]

Agent just plug your disk in server and try. If it works then you have no problems and if not... well then you do.

[Agent86]

If there is any way for me to check this or a command to test for this setting please advise

Thanks

Server console (admin login), Manage Disk Redundency

What does that display ?

I never noticed that screen before I usually login to the server-manager

Here is what I get from the Manager Disk Redundency

>>>>>

Current RAID status:                                                     │
  │                                                                          │
  │ Personalities : [raid1]                                                  │
  │ md1 : active raid1 hda1[0]                                               │
  │       104320 blocks [2/1] [U_]                                           │
  │ md2 : active raid1 hda2[0]                                               │
  │       19446592 blocks [2/1] [U_]                                         │
  │ unused devices: <none>                                                   │
  │                                                                          │
  │                                                                          │
  │ Your system only has a single disk drive installed or is using           │
  │ hardware mirroring. If you would like to enable software mirroring,      │
  │ please shut down, install a second disk drive (of the same capacity)     │
  │ and then return to this screen.            

And currently there is only one drive in the system so I'll ad the other drive this weekend  and post back

>>>>>

SME forum has been most pleasant and is a class model act for all other forums to follow

Thanks to everyone

[Agent86]

Hi all here is the results looks like it's in progress was very simple really just wanted to be safe.

Anyhow looking like this now:

 Current RAID status:                                                     │
  │                                                                          │
  │ Personalities : [raid1]                                                  │
  │ md1 : active raid1 hdc1[1] hda1[0]                                       │
  │       104320 blocks [2/2] [UU]                                           │
  │ md2 : active raid1 hdc2[2] hda2[0]                                       │
  │       19446592 blocks [2/1] [U_]                                         │
  │       [=====>...............]  recovery = 29.7% (5786880/19446592)       │
  │ finish=16.8min speed=13544K/sec                                          │
  │ unused devices: <none>                                                   │
  │                                                                          │
  │                                                                          │
  │ A RAID resynchronization is in progress.

So I'm guessing this is ok ?

[Agent86]

Mirroring drives in the same IDE channel (eg. hda and hdb) is not desirable.  If that channel goes out, you may loose both drives.  Also, performance will suffer slightly.

The preferred method is to use the master location on each IDE channel (eg. hda and hdc).  This will ensure that if you loose one channel, the other will still operate.  It will also give you the best performance.

In 2 drive setups I always do this:

IDE 1 Master - Drive1
IDE 1 Slave - CDROM
IDE 2 Master - Drive 2

I didnt' think about it till I hooked up the other hard drive but is there any problem that you can see with this setup

IDE 1 Master - Drive1
IDE 2 Master - Drive 2
IDE 2 Slave - CDROM

I didn't think of it cause my ribbons forced me to lower my CD drive and then put the other drive in, but after I was finished I realized that I would have to move the Master 1 up a level, and the Master 2 below the Master 1 in order for the cables to reach from Master 1 to CD1  so I basically just left them alone and plugged the Master2 into the CD2 slave

Is there any real problem with this config ?

And also if I decide to change it will there be any problem moving the CD to Master 1 slave and adjusting the jumpers etc. ?
Any reason for concern about data  ?

Thanks

[Agent86]

It should work automagically as long as you didn't originally install with the "noraid" option.

-Shut down the machine
-Install drive as master on the second IDE channel (hdc)
-Boot up
-Log on as admin to get to the admin console
-Go to #5 Manage disk redundency

It should tell you there if the drives are syncing up.  Don't turn off the server until the sync is complete or it will start from the beginning again.  When it is done syncing it will show a good working raid1.

If it doesn't work then file a bug report but I think all the raid issues have been fixed.

After all percentage of sync seems to complete I now have this

  │ Current RAID status:                                                     │
  │                                                                          │
  │ Personalities : [raid1]                                                  │
  │ md1 : active raid1 hdc1[1] hda1[0]                                       │
  │       104320 blocks [2/2] [UU]                                           │
  │ md2 : active raid1 hdc2[1] hda2[0]                                       │
  │       19446592 blocks [2/2] [UU]                                         │
  │ unused devices: <none>                                                   │
  │                                                                          │
  │                                                                          │
  │ All RAID devices are in clean state    

1. I'm guessing this means that both drives are now synced ?

2. Now if I decide to utilize the other 2 Secondary channels for hard drives will the raid automatically configure those and sync as well ?

3. If I decide to upgrade my hard drives to larger capacity what should be the first steps ? Can I duplicate the drive to a larger hard drive without re-installing the SME OS ?

Please advise
Thanks to all


Please advise on both subjects
Thanks to all.