Re: Software vs. Hardware RAID 1

x0054 wrote:

Walter Mautner <leafnewnode.20.eatallspam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
......
A software raid *can* lock up when a hd dies on the job or locks the
ide controller. You may have to physically unplug the ide cable of the
defective drive to be able to reboot.

What's the chance that it would happen? I would be running 2.6 kernel.

Chances are small, but even with a HW raid it can happen. When hardware
fails, it can do so in many ways. That's why real servers always have
(network) console ports with bios access and reboot features.

One of the most compelling reasons to me, for running SW Raid, was
actually the ability to monitor it from linux and have the system email
me if a disk fails. Sucks if the system locks up.

It's Murphys law. Happens every now and then just when the server is located
in a closet too far away. And it also happens with hardware raid.

.....
replacement available. Same goes for pci hw raid controllers, though
they are moveable to a new board. These are not dirt cheap though ...


The pci HW Raid boards I had were about $18 shipped for dual ATA133 from
ebay. Worked well with no need for drivers. I see what you mean though.

Good deal, you don't have the cards anymore?

My new game desktop MB advertised HW Raid capability, but when time came
I needed raid drivers to make windows run on it. So I guess I would be
happier with SW Raid.

Also, in SW RAID1 the kernel makes an image of a drive. Can I then read
each disk independently, just like a normal disk/partition?

I would not call it a "image". Now, with linux-sw-raid1, you can mount the
partitions that form a raid separately, let's say from a rescue cd like
knoppix, or even the running system. But it is not recommended unless in
case of data recovery, since you make the raid dirty that way.

--
vista policy violation: Microsoft optical mouse detected penguin patterns
on mousepad. Partition scan in progress to remove offending
incompatible products. Reactivate MS software.
Linux 2.6.16-mm1,Xorg7.0 [LinuxCounter#295241,ICQ#4918962]
.

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