RAID Array (Software)
Raid1 Root
I was looking for a way to install a Slackware 12 as described in README_LVM.TXT but on top of a Software Raid1 array. The installation is really straight forward :
Assuming we have two disk RAID_DSK[0]=/dev/sda and RAID_DSK[1]=/dev/sdb
First partion both disk using the type fd Linux raid auto You need at least two partions as descibed in README_LVM.TXT, a small one that will be mounted on /boot and a big one that will support LVM.
create the raid array :
# boot
mdadm -q --create /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 ${RAID_DSK[0]}1 ${RAID_DSK[1]}1
# lvm
mdadm -q --create /dev/md1 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 ${RAID_DSK[0]}2 ${RAID_DSK[1]}2
Follow the instruction find in README_LVM.TXT to install LVM, just use /dev/md0 for the boot partition and /dev/md1 for the Physical Volume (PV)
pvcreate /dev/md1 ...
Complete the initrd installation as described in README_LVM.TXT to support LVM, but don't exit the chroot when it's done! You need to apply more modification.
Initrd Raid1
You are still in the chroot ? fine. copy the mdadm utility in /boot/initrd-tree/
cp /sbin/mdadm /boot/initrd-tree/sbin/
save the configuration of your raid array in the initrd-tree
/sbin/mdadm -D --scan > /boot/initrd-tree/etc/mdadm.conf
modify /boot/initrd-tree/init to add the following
# rebuild RAID ARRAY /sbin/mdadm --assemble --scan 2> /dev/null
Just before
# Initialize LVM:
That it! just rebuild the initrd image without resiting the tree (do not use the -c option!).
Just for info your lilo Global section should look like that :
# Start LILO global section raid-extra-boot=mbr-only lba32 # Allow booting past 1024th cylinder with a recent BIOS boot = /dev/md0 #message = /boot/boot_message.txt prompt timeout = 3
restart lilo, exit the chroot, reboot and Enjoy!