raid1 software

[nw1]

Hello,

I have 2 HDs ide in my server, and i would like to implement a raid 1 software.

My question is , my hda is 50 Gb in use, can i make a raid1 with hda having files?

2 - if hda have 4 partitons like /home /usr /var /tmp , using raid 1 this partitions will be created in hdb?

3 - the hdb need be empyt or not to make a raid 1 ?

4 after raid1 is working , how long it take to copy all files ( 50 Gb ) to hdb in average?

Thanks very much

 

[Lyttek]

Configuring raid on existing drives will wipe out existing data. You'll need to copy the data elsewhere, config raid and then copy it back.

If you had an existing raid setup and a drive died, time during the rebuild of the dead drive will depend on server load, hardware, type of raid and etc. so it's hard to say how long it would take.

 

[bigj]

I believe this question is a bit off topic for this forum. Depending on whether you'll be using software RAID in linux, onboard RAID from the motherboard manufacturer or a RAID card from a vendor will ulitimately determine whether this is possible. I would check with one of those sources on whether you can take a current disk that is none RAID and move it to a RAID 1 set without losing data.

Personally I wouldn't try moving production data like this. I would either plan some downtime in the middle of the night, pull the drive, insert new drives, build the RAID 1 set, install OS, install cpanel, install the old disk and migrate all the data from the old to the new.

I'm sure there are others ways to do it but I would keep your potential for data loss down to a minimum and play it safe.

--
bigj

 

[Stefaans]

This is one thing where Windows is actually better than Linux. In Windows one can create a dynamic volume for Raid 1 on the fly without loosing any data

I would love to use software Raid 1 on all servers for a bit of added redundancy. I am not aware of any data centres that are willing to set up dedicated servers this way. Their support policies typically exclude software Raid.