Installing Jaunty on PC with RAID 5 installed for XP. Need help!

Asked by DERG

This is what I'm trying to do;
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto

Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid Ibex) Installation

With Intrepid, installing to a fakeraid has never been easier:
Method 1

According to the latest FakeRAID spec, Intrepid users can now install directly to SATA RAID with no additional setup or configuration required. This is is not yet supported in the Ubiquity graphical installer so you must use the Alternate Install CD. The installer will prompt you to activate the RAID partitions, which will make them available to the partitioner and allow you to continue with the installation as normal.

Using the Alternate Install CD for Jaunty beta, I never see any reference to "The installer will prompt you to activate the RAID partitions...". I did read all the F1-F6 notes but no reference to RAID. Is this an auto detect? When I got to partitions page, all seemed like a standard installation. My understanding of RAID 5 is some boot data is installed on all 3 HDs. Is this correct or has something changed in Jaunty? I don't want to screw-up my computer!
Any ideas?

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DERG (georgeaross) said :
#1

I was wrong; it is NOT RAID-5. It's either RAID-0 or 1.

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Craig Huffstetler (xq) said :
#2

They released a fix for dmraid, which is what you are describing, for Jaunty Beta. Can you download a daily build of Jaunty Beta and please give it a whirl?

Bug description:
https://bugs.edge.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/dmraid/+bug/315735

Where to download Jaunty Beta (daily) -- most up-to-date:
http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/

Fake-raid will only activate on the partitions you tell it to just like in Windows (for RAID-5). So, in Windows activate it on the Windows partitions (FAT-32/NTFS) and in Linux/Ubuntu activate it on the Ubuntu partitions (EXT3/EXT4). I recommend giving EXT4 a try. It's much faster performance wise. Do not activate it on the Windows partitions, otherwise you will overwrite the data. That way you do not "screw up your computer" as long as it is activated on the correct partitions. :-)

I hope this helps.

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DERG (georgeaross) said :
#3

First let me clarify, RAID-5 is wrong. My MB is Gigabyte GA-7VAXP & the manual says it supports either RAID-0 or 1. I'm pretty sure it's RAID-1 because all 3 HDDs are present & not combined into one HHD. At Ubuntu forums it was recommended that I us a Live CD & test Ubuntu before installing by type sudo fdisk -l in the terminal to verify which one is installed now for Windows XP. Here's the list;

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x303cb472

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 14592 117210208+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xb0c7ba6a

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 14593 117218241 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 200.0 GB, 200049647616 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 24321 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x7e5c9c32

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 24321 195358401 7 HPFS/NTFS
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

I don't know if this helps or not!
When I tried to install I didn't see any page for RAID in the Alternate Install CD for Jaunty beta or any of the references made @ https://help.ubuntu.com/community/FakeRaidHowto. But, this was written for older Ubuntu OS & there maybe changes in Jaunty.
So, I don't know what I need, Live CD or Alternate Install CD. And, what steps to take with Alternate Install CD is it is correct.
Thanks

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DERG (georgeaross) said :
#4

Although the motherboard is RAID, apparently it isn't active & doesn't need a special install disk. I installed on the 3rd HDD & successfully have a dual boot computer.
The install wouldn't, however, allow a manual setup for partitioning this HDD for swap & ext4. It wanted either 100% swap or 100% ext4, but, no mix of each (there may be but beyond my computer skills). I returned to the previous menu & selected the 3rd HDD & it installed with ext3 & swap automatically without a ext option. I believe ext3 can be converted to ext4.
Also, I initially wanted to use only 50Gb of the 200Gb & this was rejected as well but not before deleting NTFS entirely! This is why all 200Gb was used in the install.
In any case, it's working & I'm happy.
Thanks

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DERG (georgeaross) said :
#5

See above