Hardware Raid on Proliant Server DL380G4 (Production Server)

[Leon Shen]

Hi All,

Currently there was 2x72GB Harddisks install in DL380 G4 with hardware raid. The Linux OS was Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES release 2.1. Now I want install another 2x36GB Hardisk in DL380 G4 do Raid 1. I have few questions to ask.
1. Does Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 have LVM to do Software Raid? need confirm

2. If I use Compaq Proliant SmartStart Kit do Hardware Raid on 2x36GB Harddisk, is any impact on the os level?

3. Once I did the hardware raid on 2x36GB, I need create the file system for the 36GB Harddisk. The following command is correct or not.

#fdisk -l
suppose will see 2 logical volume something like /dev/cciss/c0d0p somthing and it will see 2 logial volume

#mkfs.ext2 /dev/cciss/c0p1 <--- second logical volume
#tune2fs -j /dev/cciss/c0p1
#mkdir /data1
#edit /etc/fstab
LABLE=/data1 /data1 ext3 defaults 1 2

best regards
Leon

[Ivajlo Yanakiev · Accepted solution]

1. Yes RH have software mirror
BUT do not use it :) you have hardware RAID
Use it instead soft RAID. Soft RAID is slow nad hard for recovery.
Use your ACU and create new LUN with RAID 1

2. No there aren't any problem with OS. You can use online tools from smart start ACU for linux to create new RADI 1 lun.

Note: Some time you my be need to restart
server before kernel see new RAID 1.

3. Your first LUN0
/dev/cciss/c0d0 Controller 0, disk 0, whole device
your first partition
/dev/cciss/c0d0p1 Controller 0, disk 0, partition 1

Your secound LUN1
/dev/cciss/c0d1 Controller 0, disk 1, whole device
your first partition
/dev/cciss/c0d1p1 Controller 0, disk 1, partition 1


#fdisk /dev/cciss/c0d1
and create your partiton

mkfs.ext2 -j /dev/cciss/c0d1p1
mkdir /data1
edit /etc/fstab
/dev/cciss/c0d1p1 /data1 for your first partition

[Leon Shen]

Hi Ivajlo,

Thanks for the replay. Do you have any document for linux mirror ???

regads
Leon

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

Try this link:

http://www.faqs.org/contrib/linux-raid/x37.html#AEN116

[Johannes Krackowizer_1]

Hi Leon Shen,

do not use software raid! as i understand you use a mirror on your 2x72GB Harddisk. you should also use a mirror on the 2x36GB Harddisks.

After that you can add a new mountpoint. but you could write the following line to your /etc/fstab:

/dev/cciss/c0p1 /data1 ext3 defaults 1 2

if you using lvm on your box you could also add the second logical volume to your partition and you don't have to mount it in a new directory.

best regards,

johannes