Re: Setting up Raid 1

Basic problem with software RAID is, as mtstream noted, it's prone to catastrophic failures that will result in total loss of data. We had a so-called expert consultant set up a 3 drive array as a software RAID 5 (there was no RAID adapter). One of the drives failed. THE ENTIRE ARRAY WAS LOST!!! We fortunately had a tape backup, but it was a long 12 hours later that we had it back up...

It's **ALWAYS** best to have hardware RAID. This way, a drive failure will almost never result in data loss and the drive can be replaced (and rebuilt) with almost no disruption to the users (other than things slowing down).

Whether the RAID adapter is built in or an add-on depends on the way it is manufactured. If the RAID hardware is provided by the manufacturer, it's going to already be enabled in the BIOS.... The arrays may already be configured if that was an option. We ordered a Dell 2900 server with 2 drives and the integrated RAID adapter configured as RAID 1. It arrived already configured.

Good luck with your courses. I would recommend you folks seriously consider hiring a consultant to at least work out the setup and structure of your new domain, if not help with the actual implementation/setup. There are lots of decisions that are made early that will come back to haunt you if not done right the first time. It will help teach you the right way to do things. It will be money well spent.

Regards,
Hank Arnold

UWRFREPORTER04 wrote:
I was able to figure it out today. It was rather simple to do. It wasn't my decision, it was the IS manager, I'm an assistant in college.

It's not being used for anything critical. It's a small (flat) hp server. It's going to be used for the software of a new security system and that's all it's going to be used for. We also perform regular back ups.

So for future knowledge it's always best to use a hardware raid controller because the motherboard is less likely to fail than the OS? Is a hardware raid typically installed on the motherboard (if you order a server with it) or do you need to install it yourself? I understand it needs to be set up in the BIOS.

Sorry for knowing so little, I just started my Win Server 2003 class and my superivsor knows very little about it. I'm learning as I go and shortly we are going to set up another new domain for the new location we are moving in to using win server 2003, and for good or bad, it's going to be on me to know what I'm doing to set up a small network.

"mtstream" wrote:

I second the "run away". Software RAID can be done but shouldn't. It's dependant upon the OS so any prblems there and the whole thing is gone (not to mention the additional overhead). SATA drives also have a very low mean time to failure rating compared to SCSI or SAS so they are boarderline quality for servers (depends on what you're using the server for). Sounds like someone sold you a clone "server". If it's a mission critical box you're asking for trouble.

"Hank Arnold" wrote:

Argh!!! Run, don't walk away!!! Software RAID is basically useless....

Regards,
Hank Arnold

UWRFREPORTER04 wrote:
I actually found out from another member of the IT staff that it is a software raid and that it's a feature built into Server 2003.

If anyone has a good link or site to go to that gives good instructions of how to set this up, it would be helpful.

I think where we had problems is we converted both hard drives into dynamic and only one is suppose to be converted. Thats' the little bit I understand.


Before doing anything else I suggest you find out exactly what you have on the server- is it hardware RAID, if so, what is the controller model, how is it configured, etc. Normally with hardware RAID the RAID configuration needs to be done before OS installation , using the BIOS, then loading the drivers via F6 as Cleve mentioned.



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