Menu
Article sysadmin

Setting up software RAID Storage on Linux

Troy Rippin

Troy Rippin

• 1 min read

Introduction

RAID, which stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a data storage virtualisation technology that combines multiple physical disk drive components into one or more logical units. The purpose of RAID is to improve data redundancy and performance.

Understanding RAID Levels

Before setting up RAID, it's essential to understand the different levels available:

  • RAID 0: Striping - splits data evenly across two or more disks with no redundancy.
  • RAID 1: Mirroring - duplicates data on two or more disks.
  • RAID 5: Striping with parity - data and parity are striped across three or more disks.
  • RAID 6: Striping with double parity - extends RAID 5 by adding another parity block.
  • RAID 10: Combining mirroring and striping - requires at least four disks.

Prerequisites for Setting Up RAID

  • Two or more hard drives or SSDs.
  • Root privileges or sudo access.
  • mdadm utility.

Step-by-Step RAID Configuration

To set up RAID, follow these steps:

Install mdadm

sudo dnf update
sudo dnf install mdadm -y

Partition the Disks

sudo fdisk /dev/sdX

# Replace X with the appropriate letter

Use fdisk or parted to partition the drives

Create the RAID Array

sudo mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=5 --raid-devices=5 /dev/sd{a,b,c,d,e}

# Replace /dev/sdX1 and /dev/sdY1 with the partitions you have created, and adjust the --level option according to the RAID level you want to configure.

Use the mdadm command to create your desired RAID level

Format the RAID Array (with ext4)

sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/md0

Once the array is created, format it with the file system of your choice

Mount the RAID Array

sudo mkdir /mnt/raid

sudo mount /dev/md0 /mnt/storage

Create a mount point and mount the array

Configure Automatic Mounting

echo '/dev/md0 /mnt/raid ext4 defaults,nofail,discard 0 2' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

Edit /etc/fstab to auto-mount the RAID array at boot

Save the RAID Configuration

sudo mdadm --detail --scan | sudo tee -a /etc/mdadm.conf
cat /etc/mdadm.conf

RHEL

sudo mdadm --detail --scan | sudo tee -a /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf
sudo update-initramfs -u
cat /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf

Debian

Conclusion

Setting up RAID storage can significantly enhance your system's data integrity and performance. By following this guide, you can configure various RAID levels according to your needs. Remember to back up your data before making any changes to the disk configuration.

Share