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Ubuntu Desktop RAID5 Best Practices
Hey there Experts,
I'm getting ready to build an Ubuntu Desktop box that I'll be using for a virtual machine server using Ubuntu desktop and virtualbox. I would like to create a RAID array to allow for hard drive fault tolerance but I'm a little shaky on the details of this, especially in Ubuntu.
I have 3 500GB SATA drives that I would like to use for the array. I also have a 250GB SATA drive which came with my server. I think I would like RAID5.
I guess the most basic question is this:
Should I add the 250GB drive, install Ubuntu on it, and then create my array from the three 500GB drives to hold my VMs? or
Should I just leave the 250GB drive out of the picture and install Ubuntu and my array on the three 500GB drives.
It seems counter-intuitive to me to use the 250GB for the OS but I have seen this setup referenced on the web.
Anyway, any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
PS - there is no hardware RAID controller and the budget is shoestring so we'll be sticking w/ software RAID.
I'm getting ready to build an Ubuntu Desktop box that I'll be using for a virtual machine server using Ubuntu desktop and virtualbox. I would like to create a RAID array to allow for hard drive fault tolerance but I'm a little shaky on the details of this, especially in Ubuntu.
I have 3 500GB SATA drives that I would like to use for the array. I also have a 250GB SATA drive which came with my server. I think I would like RAID5.
I guess the most basic question is this:
Should I add the 250GB drive, install Ubuntu on it, and then create my array from the three 500GB drives to hold my VMs? or
Should I just leave the 250GB drive out of the picture and install Ubuntu and my array on the three 500GB drives.
It seems counter-intuitive to me to use the 250GB for the OS but I have seen this setup referenced on the web.
Anyway, any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
PS - there is no hardware RAID controller and the budget is shoestring so we'll be sticking w/ software RAID.
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ttist25
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ASKER
Thanks guys. I'm pretty much penned in budget wise so it will have to be software with the disks I have.
Given what I understand so far you're both recommending I keep the OS on the three 500GB's in a RAID array (1TB is plenty of space so I'm assuming RAID5 is the way to go).
Is that right?
I've asked another question re: when to setup the array and that's available here if you want to answer.
Thanks again!
Given what I understand so far you're both recommending I keep the OS on the three 500GB's in a RAID array (1TB is plenty of space so I'm assuming RAID5 is the way to go).
Is that right?
I've asked another question re: when to setup the array and that's available here if you want to answer.
Thanks again!
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ASKER
Thanks guys - I'll post a new question as you guys have gone above and beyond on this question and I have found that I actually DO have an S100 PERC controller integrated into the MOBO. Initially Dell rep said no, but after chatting with a different rep, it turns out that there is an integrated controller.
Great. According to Dell the Perc S100 does support RAID 5 so that's just what you need:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/svradmin/6.2/en/OMSS/apndx.htm#wp1089749
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/svradmin/6.2/en/OMSS/apndx.htm#wp1089749
ASKER
I think my only issue there is can I get it to work with Ubunutu
Hmmm - looks like it only works with Windows from what I can see on the net.
That's very annoying - unless you use Windows and run Linux in a Virtual Machine - which seems like an awkward way of doing things!
That's very annoying - unless you use Windows and run Linux in a Virtual Machine - which seems like an awkward way of doing things!
ASKER
Yeah - I just setup RAID5 with 3 disks. Seems to be working. I just shutdown and cut power to one of the drives and it dropped to initramfs.
I guess this is where I could rebuild it? That's another question.
Thanks again for everything.
I guess this is where I could rebuild it? That's another question.
Thanks again for everything.
Does your motherboard support RAID 1 (mirroring) or RAID 10 (mirror + stripe)?
If it does a 4th 500GB disk might be a worthwhile investment as a RAID 10 over 4 disks would give you a far faster disk access than RAID 5 as there is no parity bit to calculate - although it would, of course only give you 1TB of storage from the 4x 500GB disks.
Considering that an additional drive is only about £30 including VAT you might be able to afford that: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/241715