[BlueOnyx:14242] Re: Making a single disk install into a RAID1 pair

[Chris Gebhardt - VIRTBIZ Internet]

On 1/8/2014 9:14 AM, Jeff Folk wrote:
> On Jan 8, 2014, at 8:48 AM, Neil Watson wrote:
>> I did try to inquire about this a while ago but didn't get any
>> responses, so please excuse me for trying again....
>>
>>
>> When I installed BO on my machine (5107), I only had one disk to hand (I
>> thought I had 2, but couldn't find the second one!!) so did an install to
>> the single disk...
>>
>> Subsequently I've obtained a second disk of the same type/model and would like
>> to make the disks into a RAID-1 (mirrored) pair.
>>
>> What's the best way to do this?
>>
>> I'd rather not use CMU to backup and restore as there are a number of
>> bits and bobs installed that will be time-consuming to reinstate
>> as they aren't backed up by CMU...
>>
>> Thanks (and Happy New Year!)
>>
>> Neil
>
> This kind of stuff really raises the hairs on the back of my neck! LOL
> Trying to convert your ONLY copy of the data is, at best, dangerous. Backup, then backup. Did I say BACKUP?!
>
> I see a number of old articles in a cursory Google search, but a script called Raider looks interesting:
> http://raider.sourceforge.net
>
> Info is sparse, but looks to automate the processes of the other articles I read. Maybe it would work. Have no idea if it takes care of swap partition or grub. I haven't looked at the script. Michael, of course, is the guru here, and I will always defer to him. ;-)
>
> Take it for what it's worth…
> Jeff

I'm in agreement with Jeff here.  It's a do-able task that has been 
addressed in the BlueOnyx archives before IIRC.  But is it a good idea? 
  I tend to think not.

I understand that you may have some modifications to your system that 
CMU doesn't necessarily address.  But with some advance thought & 
planning I think you're going to be better off in the long run going 
that route than trying to hack in a RAID where it was not intended.

One thing to keep in mind when you're working with a server:  your goal 
is longevity.  You want to set up a server in a configuration that is 
going to last you a long time.  The idea is a server is 
mission-critical, right?   Take your time in the beginning and give some 
thought & planning, and that will buy you out of this sort of headache 
in the future.

Bottom line: can it be done? Yes.  Should it?  I say no.  YMMV.

-- 
Chris Gebhardt
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