I'm setting up a new server. I couldn't get the Debian Lenny to set up on software RAID 1 using the Debian install disk. So I installed to one disk only then followed the HowTo on how to set up RAID 1 on a running system. http://www.howtoforge.com/software-raid1-grub-boot-debian-etch This all seemed to go well. Then I followed the Perfect Server setup for Debian Lenny to install ISPConfig 3. http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-server-debian-lenny-ispconfig3 Again, all seemed to go well. Now I want to add a single hard disk to the system as a backup storage. It is identical to the first two used in the RAID 1 set up. I can attach it while the system is running, partition it, and format it for ext3. I added it in /etc/fstab as /dev/sdc1 mounted at /media/backup. Even gave it a label of backup using e2label. Ok so far? But I have a problem when I try to reboot. The grub loader comes up with the normal menu showing the RAID boot disks (HD0:0) and (HD1:0) but then I get 2 errors, one for each saying it can't find the files (boot image). It appears to be trying to boot off the 3rd drive instead of the RAID. If I disconnect the 3rd drive and cycle power it will boot ok. So how can I get the 3rd drive to not conflict? To be clearer, the 3rd disk is not intended to be part of the RAID. It should show as a separate disk. /etc/fstab Code: # <file system> <mount point> <type> <options> <dump> <pass> # proc /proc proc defaults 0 0 /dev/md0 /boot ext3 defaults 0 0 /dev/md1 / ext3 errors=remount-ro 0 0 /dev/md2 none swap sw 0 0 /dev/sdc1 /media/backup ext3 defaults 0 0 /dev/sdd0 /media/cdrom0 udf,iso9660 user,noauto 0 0 fdisk -l (without 3rd drive) Code: Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x000e2872 Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1 * 1 122 979933+ fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sda2 123 76350 612301410 fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sda3 76351 77825 11847937+ fd Linux raid autodetect Disk /dev/sdb: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00053a7b Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 * 1 122 979933+ fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sdb2 123 76350 612301410 fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sdb3 76351 77825 11847937+ fd Linux raid autodetect Disk /dev/md0: 1003 MB, 1003356160 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 244960 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Disk /dev/md1: 626.9 GB, 626996543488 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 153075328 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Disk /dev/md2: 12.1 GB, 12132220928 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 2961968 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 fdisk -l (with 3rd drive mounted) Code: Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x000e2872 Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sda1 * 1 122 979933+ fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sda2 123 76350 612301410 fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sda3 76351 77825 11847937+ fd Linux raid autodetect Disk /dev/sdb: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00053a7b Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdb1 * 1 122 979933+ fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sdb2 123 76350 612301410 fd Linux raid autodetect /dev/sdb3 76351 77825 11847937+ fd Linux raid autodetect Disk /dev/md0: 1003 MB, 1003356160 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 244960 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Disk /dev/md1: 626.9 GB, 626996543488 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 153075328 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Disk /dev/md2: 12.1 GB, 12132220928 bytes 2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 2961968 cylinders Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Disk /dev/sdc: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes Disk identifier: 0x00000000 Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System /dev/sdc1 1 77825 625129281 83 Linux If I find the answer elsewhere I'll post it here for reference. Meanwhile, if there is an obvious solution to someone out there, please post the details. Thanks.
I think writing the question in a post puts my thoughts in order as I sometimes find the answer shortly after. A BIOS setting seems to fix the issue. Checking the HARD DISK CONFIGURATION under the BOOT tab in the BIOS with just the two RAID drives attached shows... Code: SATA:SM-WDC WD6400 SATA:3M-WDC WE6400 Connecting the 3rd drive and cycling power the BIOS then shows... Code: SATA:SM-WDC WD6400 SATA:SS-WDC WD6400 SATA:3M-WDC WE6400 So disabling the SS one from the boot configuration and restarting. System booted up ok a few times in a row with the 3rd drive mounted in /media/backup. Maybe this will assist someone else with this issue. Now on to the 1u chassis overheating the CPU with the cover on. Ugh.
