Add hard disk, swap, formatting & configurations tools, 10.04; jor Ubuntu

[giovanni_re]

What's the best software tools, & configuration method, to add new disk
drives on 10.04?


0) Additional 2TB hard disk drive(s), on a system with a original drive
of size 2TB & 1.5TB.  Single user desktop system.  
0a) Spreading swap space over multiple drives to speed up
swapping/virtualMemory is one important goal.
0b) Increasing user space for files is important
-     Currently have a /home partition in an extended partition (4th
partition on drive).
0c) Creating some space for backup of user data from /home onto a
different hard disk is important.

0.1a) Hardware:
- AMD quad core  running 64bit KUbuntu 10.04
- ASUS mobo M3A78-T,
-   5 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports 1 x eSATA 3Gb/s ports 
      with RAID 0, 1, 5 and 10 support 
http://usa.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=PaJTmB4aZ9WAYnM6&content=specifications
- SDA = 2TB, SDB = 1.5TB


1) With an existing (ubuntu) system installed on SDA, what sw tools for
disk format, partitioning & configuratio are best?

2) What formatting should be used? udev?

3) How can the disk swap space be reconfigured, to enable swap to work
off multiple drives, to enable faster swap response?  better virtual
memory speed.

4) What GUI tools for RAID configuration/setup exist.

5) I'd prefer GUI tools.  But, if there is a console mode tool which is
better than the GUI tools, please mention that.


Thanks :)


==
Note: SW I've looked at:
1) KVPM, 0.6.2
2) KDE Partition Manager 1.0.1
3) system-config-lvm 1.1.11  - Logical Volume Management
4) GPartED - fails to bring up a window - won't start.


=====  Web pages for reference:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&as_q=ubuntu+add+hard+disk

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/InstallingANewHardDrive
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HowtoPartition

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=753281   
- Re: Add new hard-disk to Ubuntu
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=267869   
- How to format a new hard disk.
https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/ubuntu-users/2007-January/104861.html  
- Adding a hard disk

http://www.debuntu.org/how-to-install-ubuntu-over-lvm-filesystem

http://ubuntuguide.org/wiki/Ubuntu:Lucid

http://www.ubuntu-unleashed.com/2008/10/gsmartcontrol-hard-disk-drive-health.html
- GSmartControl - Hard disk drive health inspection tool


http://www.bradtrupp.com/ubuntu-add-hard-drive.html
http://www.techotopia.com/index.php/Adding_a_New_Disk_Drive_to_an_Ubuntu_Linux_System
http://www.experts-exchange.com/OS/Linux/Distributions/Ubuntu/   
- Add new hard-disk to Ubuntu
http://www.linux.com/learn/tutorials/8225-clone-your-ubuntu-installation-onto-a-new-hard-disk
http://www.psychocats.net/ubuntu/mountlinux   
- Mounting Linux Partitions in Ubuntu
http://www.bloganything.net/982/ubuntu-hard-disk-optimizer-defragmenter
http://technologytales.com/2009/01/19/adding-a-new-hard-drive-to-ubuntu/
http://linuxhub.net/2010/09/scan-your-hard-disk-with-gsmartcontrol-on-ubuntu-10-10/
http://unitedboinc.com/en/news/1-latest-news/203-dotschux-a-usbdisklessharddisk-boinc-ubuntu-linux-distribution-
http://www.ghacks.net/2009/09/10/add-a-second-drive-to-your-ubuntu-server/
http://www.arsgeek.com/2008/01/22/how-to-clone-your-bootable-ubuntu-install-to-another-drive/


http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/Adding_Another_Hard_Drive
http://my.opera.com/albuemil/blog/2007/01/09/server-adding-a-new-hard-disk



https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation

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