Ask the f-list

[geekchick]

When using the Intel Matrix Storage Console (7.8, if it matters) on XP and trying to get a RAID 1 configuration set up using an existing drive (which I most emphatically do NOT want to wipe), does anyone know how to get it to tell me something just a bit more more useful than simply "Volume creation failed"? You know, like maybe WHY or HOW it failed? The documentation in this area is about as helpful as the software itself.

Comments

[rottgrub.livejournal.com]

What sort of drives, and what raid level are you working with? What kind of restore?

I don't know much about that particular raid controller, but I would suggest making a backup of that drive if you are worried about losing the contents during raid rebuild. A spare drive, a linux live CD, and the unix "dd" command are my best friends when I'm worried about losing data.

Personally, I hate hardware raid for just this reason. It's generally about the same speed as software raid (in linux, at least) and the software raid commands are soo much better documented. Gimme "mdadm" any day. With windows, well, you are pretty well screwed no matter what you do. =)

Good luck!

[geekchick]

It's an Intel 82801GR/GH SATA RAID controller, and I've got a couple of non-RAID Western Digital Caviar SE16 320GB drives: one existing drive with all my data on it, another brand-new and empty. Trying to create a RAID 1 volume using an existing drive, which has it's own handy little menu option in the console software and a wizard. Simple, no? Apparently, no. According to the Intel docs, my controller *should* support migration, but so far no joy. I get it set up, click "create new RAID volume", and it hangs for a few minutes before telling me "Volume creation failed". I'd be fine if I could get it to tell me something else too, like maybe a hint as to why it failed. I know, I ask so damn much! ;) It's not helping that my coworker says things like "I just clicked through the wizard and it worked a charm, no problems whatsoever!" Heh.

[argh-jim.livejournal.com]

I have no help for you today (sorry), but I like the icon.

[geekchick]

Thanks. =) From the Two Lumps webcomic, and it pretty well described my state of mind at the time of this post. ;)

[argh-jim.livejournal.com]

I've certainly had that feeling myself, although I've never seen the comic before, I don't think?