Looking for RAID Drivers

[Mark Haney]

John Hubbard wrote:
> Mike Bowen wrote:
>> I want to install Ubuntu, but I have a DFI motherboard with an Intel 
>> Matrix Storage Technology chip running a 4 disk RAID 5 array. This is 
>> part of the ICH9 Southbridge chipset. My questions are:
>>
>> 1.       Will Ubuntu install program recognize this array?
>>
>> 2.       If not, do I need a special driver (Intel website lists NO 
>> Linux drivers at all for this chip)?
>>
>> 3.       Where can I find such a driver??
>>
> I am sure someone will correct me if I am wrong but The simple answer is 
> probably not.  Linux implements its own software raid.  True hardware 
> raid is pretty expensive and not very common.  Unless you spent a good 
> chunk of cash on your board, I would guess it is actually software raid.

I hate to be the devil's advocate here, as usually I get called down for
it, but in this case I have to.  Yes, Linux /does/ implement software
RAID.  So does Windows.  So?  The simple fact that they both implement a
software RAID function does NOT exclude hardware RAID at all.  In fact,
I hardly ever use software RAID for the simple reason that I have found
it to be less than trustworthy on large arrays. I've seen too many S/W 
RAID systems fail and then be unable to completely recover from even a 
single drive on RAID5.

As for prices on MBs with RAID now, you'd be surprised. The last system 
I bought was H/W RAID on board (adaptec) for about $150.  They ARE 
getting cheaper and I would suspect that if a MB says it's RAID, then 
it's most likely H/W RAID.  S/W RAID can be done on almost any MB since 
it doesn't require a hardware controller to handle the RAID functions.

> 
> If you start up the *buntu installer (use the alternate installer) you 
> will get to the section about where to install.  Chose manual 
> partitioning of the drives. If you see 4 separate hard drives listed 
> then you don't have true hardware raid.  !!!BE CAREFUL DOING THIS IF YOU 
> HAVE DATA ON THE DISKS!!!  Don't create or format anything or you will 
> loose data.

NOT TRUE!  Beware, this is complete bunkum.  Even H/W RAID motherboards 
rarely come configured for RAID out of the box.  You must go into the 
BIOS of the MB and configure the system for the RAID type you want (not 
to mention this WILL tell you if the MB is hardware RAID to begin with).

> 
> Unless you are trying to do a dual boot with Windows and Linux, use the 
> Linux software raid.  It is simple and easy to set up.  The alternate 
> installer will walk you through it.

Uh, if it's H/W RAID, do that.  You can dual-boot Windoze and Linux on a 
H/W RAID system with no trouble. I routinely do that at home.

> 
> If you are trying to do a dual boot then you will need a better 
> solution.  I don't know what to do but hopefully someone else can help 
> you.
> 

However, to answer the original question, I /believe/ the SB chipset has 
RAID modules in the kernel.  I'm just getting ready to build a new one 
and I'll look and see.



-- 
Libenter homines id quod volunt credunt -- Caius Julius Caesar


Mark Haney
Sr. Systems Administrator
ERC Broadband
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