Hardware RAID Configuration --> Newbie

[sivaram_swdw]

Hey nerds,

I am running Fedora Core 2 with 4 200GB drives to be configured for the RAID. I had another 40GB harddrive for the OS and other stuff. I have purchased the 3ware RAID controller and installed it on the machine and connected to the 4 200GB harddrives.
I am planning to go for the RAID level 5. Please can anyone suggest how to bring the RAID into working and if possible can anyone provide the good resource for tutorials.

Thanks,
Sivaram.

[pparks1]

Since you are using hardware RAID, the setup of the RAID device is particular to the controller that you purchased. The card likely came with some instructions on how to set that up.

You are likely going to press some F# key during the POST of your computer and go in and configure your drives for RAID 5. This will give you 600GB of usuable space using RAID 5.

When you actually go to install Linux, it will just see the 600GB as 1 drive and you can partition from there.

[sivaram_swdw]

Hi,

I have my OS on other hard drive from which I can boot. How can I detect this new 600GB drive for partition and use as RAID.

Thanks,
Sivaram.

[markkuk]

Read the manual that was included with the RAID controller. If you didn't get the manual, complain to whoever sold it to you.

[pparks1]

Like I said before, you have to configure your RAID controller to create that RAID 5 array. You will likely do this by hitting F? at boot time.

Once you have set that up, you can load LInux and it will just see a 600GB hard drive. As far as Linux is concerned, it could be a single 600GB hard drive, a RAID 5 array or a RAID1. It doesn't matter. Linux is using the RAID because the hardware is doing it behind the scenes.