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jb1013

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Setup Multiple RAID volumes in Ubuntu

Hi and thanks for reading.  

I'm looking for some advice on setting up a File Server using Linux.  I was thinking I would just use Ubuntu Desktop 8.10.

I have two 80GB SATA Drives that I want to setup as RAID1 and install the OS on.

I also have four 1TB Drives that I want to setup as a single 3TB RAID5 volume, that I can share out with Samba, for use by Windows and Mac clients as a File Share.

I have very little Linux experience.  But I've gotten as far as installing Ubuntu on the 2 x 80GB drives in a RAID1.  

I need help with setting up the RAID5 volume now.  
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Steven Kirkland
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Ubunut's own website is full of how to's.  if you're using a software aided raid controller you'll want to look the way of dmraid;
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto

Since you have the Desktop version I'm assuming you have X.  You could also go the way of GParted for fun gui goodness;
http://www.google.com/search?q=gparted
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jb1013

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I don't have a RAID controller for the 4 x 1TB drives.  The two 80GB drives are on a RAID controller, so I think that's why it was so easy for me to setup the RAID1.

I couldn't find any options for setting up RAID's in GParted.  

It sounds like the FakeRAID, is geared to when you have a BIOS Controlled RAID Controller.  I've been reading that maybe I need to use mdadm for setting up the Software RAID, but apparently there's no GUI, and I haven't found any real good documentation for a beginner.    
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Steven Kirkland
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Thanks for the links.   That's the best instructions I've seen for mdadm, so far.  I can probably get there with those.

Will FreeNAS support two RAID partitions?  The RAID1 for the OS, and RAID5 for the Data?  I initially tried SME Server but it wouldn't work that way, I was under the impression that FreeNAS would have the same limitation.
I don't think the boot partition can exist on a fakeraid mirror but freenas does support multiple raid volumes.  Personally I would not put my /boot or swap part on the mirror if doing any sort of software or software assisted raid.
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Thanks for all your help!  Its appreciated!