[Techtalk] Made RAID Mistake?

[Kelly Martin]

Brenda Bell wrote:
> More info... I've been able to determine that the ATA1200A has the 
> HPT370 chip and there's substantial evidence on the web that it should 
> work.  Based on what I've found so far, it sounds like I need to do this:
> 
> Install the card and hook up the two drives.  Don't create the array.
> Install Mandrake.
> Rebuild the kernel to include the ataraid driver (static, not module).
> Power down, load the Adaptec Bios and create my mirror using the copy 
> option (e.g., keeps data on primary and makes mirror on secondary).
> 
> Does this sound right?  Or have I misunderstood something?  Or is there 
> an easier way?

I can't say I'm thrilled to hear that you're struggling with Highpoint; 
I've never heard anything good about their RAID cards them.  That said, 
the general approach with hardware RAID is to keep the OS in the dark 
about the fact that you're using a RAID array.  The hard part is getting 
the OS loaded with the appropriate driver for the RAID card.  Once you 
have that done, the rest is easy, as the RAID array will just look like 
a single hard drive to the OS from then out.  The software RAID tools 
(mdtools and so on) are NOT used with hardware RAID.

Caveat: all of my RAID experience is with SCSI RAID.

Kelly