fakeRAID
I just setup a new linux server box for random development and the like last night. I got some kickass components and build the server from scratch. The details are for another post, because now, I want to bitch and moan about the next stupid idea in cheap hardware: fake RAID.
It goes like this: When I was shopping for all the parts in the machine, I explicitly chose a motherboard that supported hardware RAID. I installed Debian on the machine and was a bit bewildered when it showed both hard drives. After doing some research, I found the issue:
When they say hardware RAID, they actually mean software RAID that is supported by the BIOS. In fact, it is very similar to a WinModem. That means that you are forced to use Windows if you actually want to use the RAID. Well, shit. Now, I am aware that there are experimental drivers for using SATA RAID on Linux (see dmraid), but most people agree that using the built-in Linux software RAID support (see mdadm) is preferred and better supported.
Anyway, after a long night of various fail and life-hating, I’ve now got a 500GB software RAID1 set running Debian “Lenny” Beta 2.
Off-topic: I’m seeing this odd behavior where when I cold-power-on my machine, it turns on, then suddenly dies after 2 seconds…then, without touching it, it turns on again and finishes booting. I’m using an Intel P35 chipset, and my friend Zach also is seeing the same issues on two of his C2D boxes, so perhaps it’s a chipset issue.
2 Responses
You lost me at fakeRaid! How about a post about your life in general!! LOL
I share your distaste for fakeraid. I find it almost entirely infuriating.
I’m glad you ended up on using linux’s md support instead. It is actually really quite good.
I cry inside everytime someone decides to use dmraid. (I’m glad we have dmraid support for the rare case when it’s a good idea[1], but I really wish people wouldn’t actually *use* it.)
[1] If you really must have some form of software raid across multiple platforms, dmraid appears to be the only software raid scheme supported by multiple platforms and this is the one legitimate usecase I’ve found for it.