Re: [PLUG] RAID-1 mdadm vs. Mobo H/W

[Keith via plug <plug@lists.phillylinux.org>]

I use just LVM for RAID- it does the mdadm  stuff under the hood but as 
you say, that just works.

The trick I've always used is creating the RAID-1 from a Live CD but you 
do still have to install to both disks.  I'm assuming that must be for 
MBR or EFI installations since boot info is boot info.

Despite the quirks of mdadm or LVM on system disks, I will not do 
hardware RAID personally.  Far too many horror stories in the mental 
archives.  The performance question is going to depend on workloads but 
I suspect if you wanted "high performance" you would be asking a 
different question :-)

I say stick to what is proven to work, be resilient and be understood by 
the user (you).  You don't want to learn on the job when you have a real 
problem to solve.


On 7/16/20 9:21 PM, JP Vossen via plug wrote:
> I'm building 2 new PCs and I am wondering about RAID-1.  I've been 
> using mdadm RAID-1 for at least a decade with excellent results. But I 
> haven't had to deal with (U)EFI up to now, and that's a mess, along 
> with the fact that the Linux Mint/Ubuntu `Ubiquity` installer doesn't 
> do RAID.  :-(
>
> I only care about RAID-1 (mirror) and Linux.  I would not even 
> consider Mobo RAID anymore more complicated than a mirror, but since a 
> mirror is *so* simple...
>
> Build details: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/TGsDRk
> * Asus ROG STRIX B450-F GAMING ATX AM4 Motherboard
> * 2x M2 SSD/NVMe (2 different brands)
> * LinuxMint-20 XFCE
>
> mdadm
> Pro
>     It Just Works, always and everywhere (for Linux)
>     It tells me when there is a problem
>     I know how to do everything, including replace and grow
> Con
>     (U)EFI is painful on 2 disks, ongoing?
>     Lack of installer support is REALLY painful...once
>     Performance?
>
> Mobo H/W
> Pro
>     Handles (U)EFI and installer lack-of-RAID because...
>     ...Really easy and simple
> Con
>     Depends on the Mobo H/W, which limits (replacement/move) options?
>         Does it still work if moved or split up
>         But...RAID-1 is *s0* simple...
>     I have no clue how to replace a bad drive
>     I have no clue how to grow a drive
>     Monitoring?
>
> Am I failing to consider anything?  Any thoughts?
>
> I'm leaning towards `mdadm` because I know and trust it and have 
> scripted it, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask.
>
> TIA,
> JP
> -- -------------------------------------------------------------------
> JP Vossen, CISSP | http://www.jpsdomain.org/ | http://bashcookbook.com/
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Keith C. Perry, MS E.E.
Managing Member, DAO Technologies LLC
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