Some advice on RAID, please

[unfaithfulsfan]

Hi gang,
I've got a challenging build to do and I've never set up a RAID array before so I'm asking for any tips or advice. Here's the setup:
SuperMicro MBD-X7DAL-E-O Dual 771 mobo
Dual E5410 Xeon Quad Core 2.33 GHz CPUs
4 GB Crucial PC2 5300 RAM
Apevia 600w PSU (Not my choice!)
4 WD 150 GB Raptor 10,000 rpm hdd
Sapphire HD3850 512 MB Graphics
Win XP Pro
Aplus CS-Monolith Full Tower

The primary app to be run on this beast is PhotoShop, so the customer wants fast, fast, fast. So I'm thinking of doing a RAID 5 for the "work space" and using the 4th hdd for the OS and "scratch" disk.

My one attempt at setting up a RAID 1 array in XP pro failed miserably. I configured the array then Windows wouldn't recognize it as a bootable disk. So I loaded the OS on a single drive then imaged it to the array which seemed to work. My boss decided to test it by replacing one of the drives and it rebuilt to 80% then would never complete. (I was quite depressed)

So, again, that's my predicament. Any tips or advice on my proposed configuration is greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance
Jack

[martini161]

i think that thing is faster than LRs server as for you question i dont even know what raid 5 is, so i cant help you

[Zertz]

Set up the BIOS to use the drive in RAID, install RAID drivers and then XP? I think that roughly it, I'm going to setup RAID 0/1/0+1 arrays next week

[DMB2000uk]

http://www.supermicro.com/manuals/mothe ... L-0910.pdf

Page C-2 to C-3 for setting up the bios and entering the raid menu
Page C-7 for the raid 5 setup details.
Page C-10 for what to do when installing windows.

Sorted.

Dan

[unfaithfulsfan]

Thanks again, guys!

Martini, my understanding of RAID 5 is that it's basically a stripe with redundancy. Two drives will be striped, the third serves a kind of parity purpose so if one drive fails the data can be rebuilt. (I think)

The mobo manual actually is pretty detailed until it comes down to installing the OS. Thanks for the links, Dan!

[DMB2000uk]

No worries.

I think even the OS installation page has everything that you need to do that isn't the normal XP install procedure (just lacking pics), so its plenty enough to get by.

Dan

[unfaithfulsfan]

OK Same machine, different problem.

After not getting 3 Supermicro boards to even POST, switched to a Tyan S5376G2NR. Board has no floppy port which led me to slipstream the RAID drivers using this guide http://www.maximumpc.com/article/How-To ... page=0%2C0

The problem I'm getting is when I try to load the OS, everything goes fine as far as loading drivers. I see the RAID driver name appear in the file listing as it's loaded. Then, at the next step I get a BSOD with a 0x0000007B (0xf78d2524, 0xC0000034...) error. Microsoft says its either a boot virus or a driver issue. I doubt seriously it's a boot virus as all drives are new.

I can, however, load the OS on a single drive set to IDE in BIOS. I tried imaging that install to an array but Acronis did not see the array. Of course, with this BIOS, your drives are either all IDE or all RAID. If set to RAID, the OS won't load.

I've also tried a HighPoint RocketRAID 1740 controller card but I encounter the same BSOD after loading the RR drivers.

I don't think there's any syntax errors in my modifications because I had one on my first attempt and it stopped the install immediately.

I'm just stuck. Somebody please give me a clue!

Thanks,
Jack

[DMB2000uk]

Answer: Locate a USB floppy drive

Dan

[unfaithfulsfan]

yeah, that's what I was afraid of.

[unfaithfulsfan]

Well, to wrap up this fiasco, I was not allowed to make the added expenditure for a USB floppy drive. I bore witness to a very animated temper tantrum, numerous curses on Microsoft, Tyan and computers in general by my boss, all as I played dodge ball with various and sundry hurled projectiles travelling in random trajectories and velocities.

He is going to take it from here.........

I really appreciate all the help y'all gave me on this one.

For what it's worth, while I had Windows running on a single drive, this thing was faster than stink! It seemed as though whatever app I was launching would open before I could release the mouse button.

[DMB2000uk]

Oh well, you tried your hardest.

Dan

[unfaithfulsfan]

Well, (fill in the blank with your favorite expletive)

My boss spent Memorial Day Weekend working on this beast. I was off yesterday having a medical test done. I come back today and what's waiting for me? A USB Floppy Drive and the instructions:
"Finish this up ASAP."

Windows is installing as I type this........

Thanks again for all the help.....

[DMB2000uk]

You best be getting some kind of awesome reward for making this work

Dan