I run a Windows Server 2008 machine. It is used as a file server (File Services feature), in addition to local shares I use CrushFTP for SFTP and HTTP access to my files. I would like to convert to Linux (Ubuntu at first).What I want is to install the OS on a single HDD (500 GB) and then have a software RAID 1 with two 2 TB HDDs. The RAID 1 volume will be used only for storing, and all programs will be installed on the OS HDD.In what stage of this setup should I make the RAID 1 volume? I have been searching around and it seems like most guides suggests making it during the installation of the OS. Is this the best way to do it, and when I upgrade with more HDDs, will I be able to extend the volume?
Ubuntu Server - OS on single HDD, file server on software RAID 1
ubuntu;software raid;file server;raid1
You need to create the RAID1 volume during installation if you want to install to a RAID1 volume. You're finding this in guides because usually, when people are asking about installation and about RAID, it's because they want to install on RAID.Since you don't want to install on a RAID volume, you have no RAID volume to create during installation.You need to create the RAID volume when you connect the first disk that should be in this volume to your system. This is done with the mdadm command.The size of a RAID1 volume is the size of the smallest disk that makes up that volume. If at some point you replace the smallest disk by a larger disk, you can grow the volume to cover the disk that is now the smallest one.