Topic: Configure software raid

[smnirosh]

Hello everybody, I have a hp server with sme server 9.2 installed. I have enabled hardware raid controller on the server but neither in sme server it has not been configured as hardware raid nor software raid. I would like to know that could i install software raid on this server without loosing any data. ?  Thanks for your support

[wires12]

Hardware and software RAID are mutually exclusive. If you enable (and configure) hardware RAID all the SME installer will see is one drive. OTOH if you disable the hardware RAID controller (best idea...) you can configure available disks in various RAID configurations in the SME installer.

So if you now have hardware RAID and want to switch to software RAID you will have to;

• Back up your data (best option is in backup to USB disk in the admin terminal interface)
• Undo the hardware RAID and disable it on your HP server box
• Reinstall SME server, choose the RAID you want during install
• Restore your data

For best results be sure to have at least TWO copies of your critical data on TWO different types of media/backup methods.

[smnirosh]

Yes wires12 your answer is correct and thanks.
But in my scenario I have not configured hardware raid and not installed os as hardware raid enabled. Only activated smart array adapter on the server. Also sme server is not installed as software raid enabled, that’s why I try to enable software raid now.  I can see both the two disk in the fdisk. (If I configured hw raid fdisk shows me one hard disk!!!) Is it possible to do without even reinstalling???

[wires12]

I'm sorry but I'm a bit confused.

How many disks are installed in the HP server?

[smnirosh]

Two disks. I have installed the server as “no raid/no vlm”. That’s why no raid is configured yet. 

[wires12]

Then reinstall with RAID 1 (mirror).

[smnirosh]

Yes but instead of reinstalling, I can configure software raid on sme server using mdadm. Is it possible to configure that manner or will it be confused with smart array adapter on the server?

[wires12]

Why bother? Just reinstall.

(unlessyouaretryingtostartameanderingthreadthatmakeseveryonesheadhurtandgoesnowherewhiledrainingthelastbitsofvitalityfromaoncevibrantcommunity)

[smnirosh]

It affects to other users who access files on this server and openvpn. 

[ReetP]

It affects to other users who access files on this server and openvpn. 

In that case you should have made sure you knew what you were doing before you started.

"Act in haste, repent at leisure."

It may mean you have to spend a whole night working on it if you don't want to upset your users, but the answer above is your easiest option.

Yes, you could convert to a RAID - there is lots of information online you can find for yourself about how to do this. There are also some clues in the wiki. Just make sure you have a good backup first.

[ReetP]

(unlessyouaretryingtostartameanderingthreadthatmakeseveryonesheadhurtandgoesnowherewhiledrainingthelastbitsofvitalityfromaoncevibrantcommunity)

Chortle

[smnirosh]

Yes ReetP, first of all i decided to have a backup using dd command. Is it quite worth or another backup option that would be better support for sme server restoration in case of failure?

[ReetP]

Yes ReetP, first of all i decided to have a backup using dd command. Is it quite worth or another backup option that would be better support for sme server restoration in case of failure?

Yup. Use the SME server backup (and read the wiki carefully on use).

Disconnect the server from the network so it stops collecting any mail etc, run backup from the console, and then 'restore from backup' when you reinstall.

Should work.

dd will copy all your existing partitions etc. with no raid partitions, so dd restore will put you back where you started, which is not what you wanted.

PLEASE go and have a good read about all this and educate yourself about how these things work.

[smnirosh]

Ok reetp. Thanks very much ur support.

[ReetP]

Ok reetp. Thanks very much ur support.

Make notes as you go, and if you get stuck then come back here with the notes, and what went wrong.