Topic: How to Configure RAID5 in SME Server 7.5/how to know the total usable storage

[killersmiles]

Hi Sir,

I am a newbie in SME Server and im trying to setup in IBM System X 3650 M3 and i have 6TB hardisk and i want to configure it in RAID5 is it possible or i can only configure it in RAID1? if it is, then please teach me step by step coz i really dont know how..

and also how to know the total storage capacity when i finished configuring raid?

[Stefano]

Hi, welcome here

how many hds do you have?

I guess your server has an hw raid controller.. if so, I would configure raid array on the server and then install SME.. during the setup, SME will see one big disk and will use all available space.

anyway, you should really read here: http://wiki.contribs.org/Raid

[killersmiles]

Thank you for your response sir,

By the way i have 6HD 1TB each, and i already configured it to raid5 via IBM SERVER GUIDE and after that i install SME Server

This is the output of my disk checking sir :

Current Raid Status :

Personalities : [raid1]
md2: active raid1          sda2[0]
        2147480768  blocks   [2/1] [U_]
md1: active raid 1         sda1[0]
        104320        blocks   [2/1] [U_]

unfortunately i dont understand what is the meaning of that sir, can you please explain to me what is that? is that my total usable storage? whay i can't see the raid5 that i already configured with IBM SERVER GUIDE.

I already read the raid configuration on http://wiki.contribs.org/Raid  but i dont understand that also..

thank you so much for your response..

Hope to hear your response to my queries again..once again thanks a lot..

[Stefano]

By the way i have 6HD 1TB each, and i already configured it to raid5 via IBM SERVER GUIDE and after that i install SME Server

how did you configure your raid array? with or without spare drive(s)?

if you have no spare drive, your available space is (teorically) 5TB..
you can verify here

This is the output of my disk checking sir :

Current Raid Status :

Personalities : [raid1]
md2: active raid1          sda2[0]
        2147480768  blocks   [2/1] [U_]
md1: active raid 1         sda1[0]
        104320        blocks   [2/1] [U_]

your server created a raid1 array with 1 hd only (it's a SME feature)

can you please give us the output of

Code: [Select]

df -h

and

Code: [Select]

fdisk -l

I guess SME was unable to use all your disk

unfortunately i dont understand what is the meaning of that sir, can you please explain to me what is that? is that my total usable storage?

you should search the web for linux software raid concepts

whay i can't see the raid5 that i already configured with IBM SERVER GUIDE.

because SME doesn't provide any utility to do so.. you should install IBM diagnostic tools.. I can't help you.. just remember to search/install the RH4/CentOS4 one

since you are installing a new server, I suggest to try SME8.b6, disabling hw raid and let SME use its raid5. be sure to read the boot options at cd boot (F1,F2 keys) to tell SME to use all disks in raid5 array.. It's up to you to choose with or without spare disk.. in this way you should be able to use all your available space and to monitor raid status using SME's tools

HTH

[killersmiles]

By the way i have 6HD 1TB each, and i already configured it to raid5 via IBM SERVER GUIDE and after that i install SME Server

how did you configure your raid array? with or without spare drive(s)?
without spare sir.

if you have no spare drive, your available space is (teorically) 5TB..
you can verify here
yes sir its probably almost 5t

Quote
This is the output of my disk checking sir :

Current Raid Status :

Personalities : [raid1]
md2: active raid1          sda2[0]
        2147480768  blocks   [2/1] [U_]
md1: active raid 1         sda1[0]
        104320        blocks   [2/1] [U_]


your server created a raid1 array with 1 hd only (it's a SME feature)

can you please give us the output of
Code: [Select]
df -h
file system                                         size                      used              avail               use%             mounted on
dev/mapper/main root                          2.0t                     1.8g               1.9t                1%                   /
dev/md1                                            99m                     23m               71m                25%                 /boot
one                                                  4.0g                      0                  4.0g                 0%                 /dev/shm

and
Code: [Select]
fdisk -l


disk/dev/md1: 106mb, 106823680 bytes
heads, 4 sectors/tracks, 26080 cylinders
units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096

 disk/dev/md1 doesn't contain a valid partition table

disk /dev/md2:2199.0 gb, 2199020306432 bytes
heads, 4 sectors/tracks, 536870192 cylinders
units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes

disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table

disk /dev/dm-0: 2194.7gb, 2194795397120 bytes
heads, 4 sectors/tracks, 535838720 cylinders
units=cylinders of 8*512 =4096 bytes

disk /dev/dm-0 doesn't contain a valid partition table
disk/dev/dm-1 4194 mb 419430000 bytes
heads, 4 sectors/track, 1024000 cylinders
units = cylinders of 8* 512 = 4096

I guess SME was unable to use all your disk

Quote
unfortunately i dont understand what is the meaning of that sir, can you please explain to me what is that? is that my total usable storage?

you should search the web for linux software raid concepts

Quote
whay i can't see the raid5 that i already configured with IBM SERVER GUIDE.

because SME doesn't provide any utility to do so.. you should install IBM diagnostic tools.. I can't help you.. just remember to search/install the RH4/CentOS4 one

since you are installing a new server, I suggest to try SME8.b6, disabling hw raid and let SME use its raid5. be sure to read the boot options at cd boot (F1,F2 keys) to tell SME to use all disks in raid5 array.. It's up to you to choose with or without spare disk.. in this way you should be able to use all your available space and to monitor raid status using SME's tools

using SME 8 sir, still i can used servergateway?
if so then , i will try to install SME 8..

Thank you so much sir, your a big help for a newbie like me...

[killersmiles]

Sir,

i have another problem, i install SME 8 b6 and configured it in raid5 but during the installation process the system said cannot boot using gpt partioning scheme, what is this means?

can you help me to solve this things out? much better step by step installation from configuring raid.. still im using the same hardware...

Thank sir.

[killersmiles]

sir how can i convert GPT into MBR? you have any idea?

[janet]

killersmiles

Search these forums on gpt for some workarounds, I'm sure this was answered recently ie in the last few months.
Indeed you should always search these forums & google before asking your question as many/most things have already been answered.

eg try this
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php/topic,47714.msg236262.html#msg236262
which refers to this
http://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=14271

[killersmiles]

Sir,

i already search and try this..i almost try every search give by google. but unfortunately its not still resolve my problem..please help me to convert this gpt to mbr or using sme 7.5 to used all my storage..