Comments for It can't rain forever... http://bbossola.wordpress.com Life, Java, Whatever Sun, 06 Jul 2008 20:20:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Diego http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1754 Diego Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:21:19 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1754 Man, i'm having a problem when i have to repeat the six previous steps, when i install dmraid it doesn't create nothing at /dev/mappper/xxxxx , where before it created a "via_xxxxxxxxxx", something like this...what can i do? Man, i’m having a problem when i have to repeat the six previous steps, when i install dmraid it doesn’t create nothing at /dev/mappper/xxxxx , where before it created a “via_xxxxxxxxxx”, something like this…what can i do?

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Flushness http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1752 Flushness Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:31:44 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1752 Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation :) Anyway ... nice blog to visit. cheers, Flushness Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation :) Anyway … nice blog to visit.

cheers, Flushness

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Justin http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1750 Justin Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:38:26 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1750 I just did this today. Worked really well. Now I am trying to figure out how to break it. I pulled a drive. The OS throws a system change error. But when I try to do an ls -l on /etc for example I get an infinit it seems list of I/O errors. I figured, you loose a drive it keeps chugging along but with errors. I didnt expect it to crash the OS. But when you shut down, put drive back in, then boot back up, shes good as new. RAID1 on a new HP DL320 G5p with the embedded Intel RAID. Two 160GB Seagate drives. I just did this today. Worked really well. Now I am trying to figure out how to break it. I pulled a drive. The OS throws a system change error. But when I try to do an ls -l on /etc for example I get an infinit it seems list of I/O errors. I figured, you loose a drive it keeps chugging along but with errors. I didnt expect it to crash the OS. But when you shut down, put drive back in, then boot back up, shes good as new.

RAID1 on a new HP DL320 G5p with the embedded Intel RAID. Two 160GB Seagate drives.

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Paul Weiss http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1749 Paul Weiss Tue, 17 Jun 2008 06:37:34 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1749 Wow, I really want to set-up the software RAID, but this is just too much. Ubuntu has to automate this process. Wow, I really want to set-up the software RAID, but this is just too much. Ubuntu has to automate this process.

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Jason http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1748 Jason Sun, 15 Jun 2008 03:49:52 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1748 I think you've got a great tutorial here, but to be honest, I guess I'm a little too green to understand it all. I'm currently trying to install Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop with RAID 5 and have been failing miserably. I have FakeRAID on the motherboard (Intel ICH8R) and I've tried that and software raid with no luck. The Ubuntu installer doesn't seem to even acknowledge the FakeRAID (though I now understand why from reading your post) and when setting up software RAID 5, neither grub nor lilo will install (they generate fatal errors). I read something that said neither grub nor lilo will work on RAID 5 period (unless it's hardware RAID) which was rather disappointing. One thing I've noticed though, is that I've been trying to set up all 4 of my disks as one great big RAID 5 partition assigned to / (root). Some of the tutorials I've been reading make it sound like I should be creating SEVERAL partitions. I'm not really sure if I need to or not. I fail to see the need for a swap partition (I have 8GB of DDR2-800 ram in the box), but maybe I do need all those partitions? Your tutorial is somewhat easy to follow for a complete linux noob, but when you get to the parts about editing files, well... I don't have the vi commands memorized (except for how to quit!) and most linux noobs have probably never even used it. It might be a good idea to add a list of the basic vi commands they'll need to get those edits done. Some clarification on whether or not grub would boot from a raid 5 partition or not and if not, I guess we just set up a /boot partition using raid 1? How big should this partition be? I don't want to waste space I don't have to... Thanks again for the tutorial. Hopefully I don't end up staying up *all* night on this. I'm going to try the software raid route again and create a raid 1 boot partition and a small swap partition and see if I can manage to get this beast running. I'd really much rather do the FakeRAID thing as it makes things a lot easier for me if a hard drive ever does die. What would really be awesome is if Ubuntu: a) Had that dmraid thing built into the installer (these FakeRAID controllers are commonplace now). b) Was a little more intuitive about the partitioning and RAID setup stuff so n00bs like me could just say "I wanna use raid 5, with these disks, please make it happen" without all the partitioning and crap. I shouldn't need to *know* Linux to install it on my machine. Maybe I'm asking too much? I'm saving your page to my Google notebook so I can post my results later. :-) I think you’ve got a great tutorial here, but to be honest, I guess I’m a little too green to understand it all.

I’m currently trying to install Ubuntu 8.04 Desktop with RAID 5 and have been failing miserably. I have FakeRAID on the motherboard (Intel ICH8R) and I’ve tried that and software raid with no luck. The Ubuntu installer doesn’t seem to even acknowledge the FakeRAID (though I now understand why from reading your post) and when setting up software RAID 5, neither grub nor lilo will install (they generate fatal errors).

I read something that said neither grub nor lilo will work on RAID 5 period (unless it’s hardware RAID) which was rather disappointing.

One thing I’ve noticed though, is that I’ve been trying to set up all 4 of my disks as one great big RAID 5 partition assigned to / (root). Some of the tutorials I’ve been reading make it sound like I should be creating SEVERAL partitions. I’m not really sure if I need to or not. I fail to see the need for a swap partition (I have 8GB of DDR2-800 ram in the box), but maybe I do need all those partitions?

Your tutorial is somewhat easy to follow for a complete linux noob, but when you get to the parts about editing files, well… I don’t have the vi commands memorized (except for how to quit!) and most linux noobs have probably never even used it. It might be a good idea to add a list of the basic vi commands they’ll need to get those edits done.

Some clarification on whether or not grub would boot from a raid 5 partition or not and if not, I guess we just set up a /boot partition using raid 1? How big should this partition be? I don’t want to waste space I don’t have to…

Thanks again for the tutorial. Hopefully I don’t end up staying up *all* night on this. I’m going to try the software raid route again and create a raid 1 boot partition and a small swap partition and see if I can manage to get this beast running. I’d really much rather do the FakeRAID thing as it makes things a lot easier for me if a hard drive ever does die.

What would really be awesome is if Ubuntu:

a) Had that dmraid thing built into the installer (these FakeRAID controllers are commonplace now).

b) Was a little more intuitive about the partitioning and RAID setup stuff so n00bs like me could just say “I wanna use raid 5, with these disks, please make it happen” without all the partitioning and crap. I shouldn’t need to *know* Linux to install it on my machine.

Maybe I’m asking too much?

I’m saving your page to my Google notebook so I can post my results later. :-)

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Chris http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1734 Chris Thu, 15 May 2008 01:37:39 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1734 It would be great if you could update this posting to include better explanations of the steps (the theory behind each step I mean). It would be a great help for those of us familiar with the concepts, but not the system. For example, what is the mapper directory? when is it created? What are the partition steps (where you just have the commands listed)? What is the theory behind the partition layout? Is swap raided? Is boot raided? Can the computer boot from raid (both hard drives)? ... In any case, thanks for the instructions. It would be great if you could update this posting to include better explanations of the steps (the theory behind each step I mean). It would be a great help for those of us familiar with the concepts, but not the system. For example, what is the mapper directory? when is it created? What are the partition steps (where you just have the commands listed)? What is the theory behind the partition layout? Is swap raided? Is boot raided? Can the computer boot from raid (both hard drives)?

…

In any case, thanks for the instructions.

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by g http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1733 g Sat, 26 Apr 2008 12:07:50 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1733 Hallo. After I followed all Your steps, when I try to boot Ubuntu from grub, i get a message saying the root string is false (/dev/mapper/xxx1). How can i fix it? Thx Hallo.
After I followed all Your steps, when I try to boot Ubuntu from grub, i get a message saying the root string is false (/dev/mapper/xxx1). How can i fix it?
Thx

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by rokur http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1731 rokur Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:07:11 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1731 Right, I tried and failed again, and will send you an email request then. I think that maybe I've misunderstood how to name the root partition in /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab, since I get this error message right before Grub fails: "ALERT! /dev/mapper/ddf1_4c534920202020808627c3000000003527711500000a281 does not exist. Dropping to a shell!" Right, I tried and failed again, and will send you an email request then. I think that maybe I’ve misunderstood how to name the root partition in /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab, since I get this error message right before Grub fails: “ALERT! /dev/mapper/ddf1_4c534920202020808627c3000000003527711500000a281 does not exist. Dropping to a shell!”

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by Bruno Bossola http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1730 Bruno Bossola Fri, 04 Apr 2008 08:30:44 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1730 <strong>Topic 1 </strong>> “edit /etc/apt/sources.list, uncomment universe packages” > - I didn’t know how to edit, but in the end managed to do > a “vi /etc/apt/sources.list” (and get out again) > Right, vi should do the job :) You should uncomment universe packages. The contents of the /etc/apt/sources.list file may look something like this: ## sources.list ## General comments about the sources.list file deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted ## Comment about the 'Update' repositories ## Comments about the role of the updates deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted ## Comment on the 'Universe' repositories ## Comment about the support limitations of Universe & Multiverse ## repositories as well as licence restrictions and update policies. ## Please satisfy yourself as to your rights to use the software. # deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe multiverse # deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe multiverse You just have to uncomment this last two lines (remove '# ' from the start of the line) <strong>Topic 2: </strong>> “mount –bind /dev/ /target/dev” > - resulted in an error, but > “mount –-bind /dev/ /target/dev” worked > This is a wordpress/theme/whatever issue: in the text two dashes are present... uhm... I'll put a space between them <strong>Topic 3: </strong>> “cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/” > - wouldn’t copy to same location, so I guessed > “cp /etc/network/interfaces /target/etc/network/” > You're right, I'll fix it in the article :) <strong>Topic 4: </strong>> “cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/” > - didn’t work, so I guessed “cd /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/” > I completely miss a piece of code :) I'll fix in in the article It should be read: cp /usr/lib/grub/-pc/* /boot/grub/ This will copy the staging file for the various filesystem in your boot partition. In my example the directory is "/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/" and the files that are copied are "e2fs_stage1_5", "jfs_stage1_5",... <strong>Topic 5 </strong>> “modify, inside “kernel” items...” > - so this would be those to or three instances at the > end of the file? > Yes, your menu.lst will look something like this: title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/mapper/ddf1_LogicalDrive_01 ro initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode) root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/mapper/ddf1_LogicalDrive_01 ro single initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+ root (hd0,0) kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin <strong>Topic 6 </strong>> And then I got totally stuck when editing /etc/fstab. > Should I erase the lines that were already in the file? > I chose to, and then rebooted, and got the I/O errors. > Yes, you have to redefine standard mount points. Apart from /proc (standard) you will have to configure mount point / (your root directory) on dmraid device 01 and select your swap partition (device 02) <strong>Bottom line </strong>I don't know where the problem you're experiencing may happen... it seems you successfully configured your dmraid device don't you? If you boot from a live CD, get dmraid package installed, you're able to read/write from the raid device, aren't you? So it should be a problem with phase 3, a grub problem or a mount problem. You should double check your grub configuration, /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab Anyway, thanks for your great feedback! If you need more help drop me a mail, maybe I'll be able to give you more advices, even if I'm also a noob in linux :) You may check also on these pagese: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto http://www.ubuntu-in.org/wiki/SATA_RAID_Howto Topic 1
> “edit /etc/apt/sources.list, uncomment universe packages”
> - I didn’t know how to edit, but in the end managed to do
> a “vi /etc/apt/sources.list” (and get out again)
>
Right, vi should do the job :) You should uncomment universe packages.
The contents of the /etc/apt/sources.list file may look something like this:

## sources.list
## General comments about the sources.list file
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper main restricted

## Comment about the ‘Update’ repositories
## Comments about the role of the updates
deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted
deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper-updates main restricted

## Comment on the ‘Universe’ repositories
## Comment about the support limitations of Universe & Multiverse
## repositories as well as licence restrictions and update policies.
## Please satisfy yourself as to your rights to use the software.
# deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe multiverse
# deb-src http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu dapper universe multiverse

You just have to uncomment this last two lines (remove ‘# ‘ from the start of the line)

Topic 2:
> “mount –bind /dev/ /target/dev”
> - resulted in an error, but
> “mount –-bind /dev/ /target/dev” worked
>
This is a wordpress/theme/whatever issue: in the text two dashes are present… uhm… I’ll put a space between them

Topic 3:
> “cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/”
> - wouldn’t copy to same location, so I guessed
> “cp /etc/network/interfaces /target/etc/network/”
>
You’re right, I’ll fix it in the article :)

Topic 4:
> “cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/”
> - didn’t work, so I guessed “cd /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/”
>
I completely miss a piece of code :) I’ll fix in in the article
It should be read:

cp /usr/lib/grub/-pc/* /boot/grub/
This will copy the staging file for the various filesystem in your boot partition. In my example the directory is “/usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/” and the files that are copied are “e2fs_stage1_5″, “jfs_stage1_5″,…

Topic 5
> “modify, inside “kernel” items…”
> - so this would be those to or three instances at the
> end of the file?
>
Yes, your menu.lst will look something like this:
title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/mapper/ddf1_LogicalDrive_01 ro
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, kernel 2.6.22-14-generic (recovery mode)
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.22-14-generic root=/dev/mapper/ddf1_LogicalDrive_01 ro single
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.22-14-generic

title Ubuntu 7.10, memtest86+
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/memtest86+.bin

Topic 6
> And then I got totally stuck when editing /etc/fstab.
> Should I erase the lines that were already in the file?
> I chose to, and then rebooted, and got the I/O errors.
>
Yes, you have to redefine standard mount points. Apart from /proc (standard) you will have to configure mount point / (your root directory) on dmraid device 01 and select your swap partition (device 02)

Bottom line
I don’t know where the problem you’re experiencing may happen… it seems you successfully configured your dmraid device don’t you? If you boot from a live CD, get dmraid package installed, you’re able to read/write from the raid device, aren’t you? So it should be a problem with phase 3, a grub problem or a mount problem. You should double check your grub configuration, /boot/grub/menu.lst and /etc/fstab

Anyway, thanks for your great feedback! If you need more help drop me a mail, maybe I’ll be able to give you more advices, even if I’m also a noob in linux :)
You may check also on these pagese:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto
http://www.ubuntu-in.org/wiki/SATA_RAID_Howto

]]> Comment on DMRAID on Ubuntu with SATA fakeraid by rokur http://bbossola.wordpress.com/2008/03/07/dmraid-on-ubuntu-with-sata-fakeraid/#comment-1729 rokur Thu, 03 Apr 2008 14:31:24 +0000 http://bbossola.wordpress.com/?p=40#comment-1729 Very interesting, but unfortunately I didn't get it to work. Ended up with Grub loading and then a list of I/O erros, when experimenting with my Fujitsu-Siemens Primergy Econel 102 S2 with two 160Gb SATA drives, installing Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon. I'm sort of a newbie, so it was probably because I did something wrong when getting stuck. Here is a bit of feedback... "edit /etc/apt/sources.list, uncomment universe packages" - I didn't know how to edit, but in the end managed to do a "vi /etc/apt/sources.list" (and get out again) "mount –bind /dev/ /target/dev" - resulted in an error, but "mount –-bind /dev/ /target/dev" worked "cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/" - wouldn't copy to same location, so I guessed "cp /etc/network/interfaces /target/etc/network/" "cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/" - didn't work, so I guessed "cd /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/" "modify, inside “kernel” items" - so this would be those to or three instances at the end of the file? And then I got totally stuck when editing /etc/fstab. Should I erase the lines that were already in the file? I chose to, and then rebooted, and got the I/O errors. Very interesting, but unfortunately I didn’t get it to work. Ended up with Grub loading and then a list of I/O erros, when experimenting with my Fujitsu-Siemens Primergy Econel 102 S2 with two 160Gb SATA drives, installing Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon.

I’m sort of a newbie, so it was probably because I did something wrong when getting stuck. Here is a bit of feedback…

“edit /etc/apt/sources.list, uncomment universe packages”
- I didn’t know how to edit, but in the end managed to do a “vi /etc/apt/sources.list” (and get out again)

“mount –bind /dev/ /target/dev”
- resulted in an error, but “mount –-bind /dev/ /target/dev” worked

“cp /etc/network/interfaces /etc/network/”
- wouldn’t copy to same location, so I guessed “cp /etc/network/interfaces /target/etc/network/”

“cp /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/”
- didn’t work, so I guessed “cd /usr/lib/grub/i386-pc/”

“modify, inside “kernel” items”
- so this would be those to or three instances at the end of the file?

And then I got totally stuck when editing /etc/fstab. Should I erase the lines that were already in the file? I chose to, and then rebooted, and got the I/O errors.

]]>