Re: LUG: RAID - Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:07:54 -0500

Subject : Re: LUG: RAID

From : Jack Neely <jjneely@ncsu.[redacted]>

Date : Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:07:54 -0500

On Sat, Nov 22, 2008 at 05:03:36PM -0500, Carson Holgate wrote:
> Ok, so I was running RAID before on my big system and I fried a hard drive
> with an improperly installed Video Card. And now, the guy who does my
> computer stuff tells me that with the utility he was using before, it�s
> impossible to restore the system because it only really works for Windows
> XP. I have no idea really what he was using before because he doesn�t
> bother to explain anything to me, but I�m wondering�for future
> reference�what is the best way to do RAID?
>
> Also I plan on going with Fedora 10 for the next boot, is that a good idea?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Carson

This sounds like a "hardware" RAID support on the mother board. I would
generally suggest avoiding the mother board built in RAID support. Some
work fine with Linux, some don't, and your mileage will vary quite a bit.

For a home system I'd use the Linux Software RAID stuff as Jesus
suggested. Any linux system will be able to recover your data and it
will be a lot faster with most apps than the mother board built in
stuff.

If you're looking for hardware solutions for a home system I'd suggest
the 3ware cards or the LSI cards. (The Dell PERC controllers are LSI.)
After that I'd suggest the entry level SAN stuff...but now we get at the
$10 grand mark. ;-)

Jack
--
Jack Neely <jjneely@ncsu.[redacted]>
Linux Czar, OIT Campus Linux Services
Office of Information Technology, NC State University
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