On Friday 19 October 2007 02:07:49 pm Richard Creighton wrote: > Mike Coan wrote: > > when the installation fails and I reboot and begin a new installation, I > > note that disks 3 and 4 are labeled md0, but disk 2 is not. perhaps it > > is a problem with disk 2. My next attempt will try to create a raid5 > > using disks 1, 3 and 4. > > > > Mike > > Mike, > > Did you make the installation in 2 stages as I suggested and make the > raid array from within Yast after updating the kernel? > > In other words, I don't trust the installer to make the array. Before > you create the array, you can try creating a conventional file system on > it and get the formatter to check the surface. That might give you a > clue. Also, don't forget 'badblocks' (maybe spelled wrong, it's been a > long time).
Richard, Thanks so much for your persistence. I did in fact try it in two stages, updating the kernel, and then tried the array. no luck. I then thought it might be a problem with just raid5. I created a raid0 array, and that was successful. I then created a raid1 array, and that too was successful, although it took a while and it sounded like a hard drive was clicking. With the remaining space on the drives I then tried to create a raid 5 array. it immediately failed with a different error message, but now there was a message on the console. S.M.A.R.T. indicated /sdc was failing. I removed the 3rd drive and voila, YAST had no trouble creating a raid5 array. it was a hardware problem all along. I had SMART enabled the whole time and it kept saying the drives were fine. It was only after repeated attempts to create a raid 5 array that SMART finally indicated the drive was bad. Although time consuming, the exercise was helpful to me. From your YAST screen shot I realized that one didn't need to use the entire disk for an array, just equal size partitions. i had been under the impression you had to use the whole drive. Thus I will format things differently. Linux does the file serving, but we have one major application that must be run on a Windows server. I run it as a virtual machine using vmware. Since raid 0 is the fastest, I will create a raid0 array for virtual machines. Then two raid5 arrays for / and for /storage. I back up to storage and to an external usb drive. Thanks again for all your help. Sorry it was a hardware problem, but since SMART indicated no problem, i wasn't sure. There must be a way to test drives to make sure they are good before beginning aninstallation. Mike -- Michael A. Coan Woodlawn Foundation 524 North Avenue, Suite 203 New Rochelle, NY 10801-3410 Tel 914-632-3778 Fax 914-632-5502 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
