RAID 1 advice

pbdr · 10-30-2006, 07:34 PM

I recently had an HDD fail. I was able to recover some of the data, but not all. It was aslo a big pain in the crapper to get everything set up once again.

Now I want to use RAID 1 to make sure that this will (most likely) never happen again.

Problem is I wasn't thinking about all this when I set up my newest system.

My current HDD is IDE; for obvous reasons I want to use SATA connections for my new drive(s).

Question 1: Can I RAID 1 an IDE and SATA drive?

The aim would be ato "clone" the first drive using RAID 1 and then set up a second, identical SATA drive so I have two matching SATA drives inthe RAID 1 configuration.

Question 2: My MOBO (ASUS A8N5X) supports 1.5 gb/s SATA, can I use a 3.0 gb/s SATA drive?

If the above scheme is not going to work, what options do I have to prevent the need to re-install every piece of software I have and transfer all data manually?

pip22 · 10-31-2006, 08:28 AM

RAID is not your only option for keeping identical data on a second drive. You could fit a second drive then buy 'Norton Ghost' (pref the 2003 version which runs is DOS) and use it to create an 'image' of your Windows drive on to the secondary drive.

Unlike RAID, however, the image can't update itself to keep in sync with new data, but all you need to do is create a new image every couple of weeks. You would also be able to use the second drive for saving other stuff as well as the disk image, something you wouldn't be able to do if it was installed as RAID.

meanman · 10-31-2006, 09:34 AM

doesnt raid 1 just share installs between 2 hdds i dont think it backs up the hdd if anything raid 1 is less stable than a ide drive because you are using 2 drives to do one job so if one craps out you lose everything there is a raid that backs up to another drive but im not sure which it is you will have to read the stickys

[-0MEGA-] · 10-31-2006, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meanman

doesnt raid 1 just share installs between 2 hdds i dont think it backs up the hdd if anything raid 1 is less stable than a ide drive because you are using 2 drives to do one job so if one craps out you lose everything there is a raid that backs up to another drive but im not sure which it is you will have to read the stickys

You're thinking of RAID 0, which splits the data up between multiple drives. RAID 1 copies everything, so if one drive fails, you have another backup.

Ku-sama · 10-31-2006, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbdr

Question 1: Can I RAID 1 an IDE and SATA drive?

Question 2: My MOBO (ASUS A8N5X) supports 1.5 gb/s SATA, can I use a 3.0 gb/s SATA drive?

1: as far as i know, no. but you could get a IDE to SATA connector and have the drive pretend its SATA then RAID it with a SATA drive, just make sure the specs are the same (cache, RPM, ect...) but even then i doubt it would work, just go pick up two 200GB SATA II harddrives, they are pretty cheap at the moment...

2: yes, you need to set a capping jumper on the back and it will work

pbdr · 10-31-2006, 04:21 PM

I am looking to use RAID 1 (this is the mirroring setup) as opposed to other backup methods, just for the ease of use. I.e. once it's setup, you basically have a very good backup method running constantly (also, Norton Ghost is a pain in the ass...)

From Ku-Sama's reply it appears that I can't really set up RAID 1 with an IDE and SATA drive (I want to go for a 200 gb SATA drive and use it for a while).

Next question: Is it possible to clone an IDE HDD to an SATA HDD?

This way I could clone my existing HDD onto an SATA drive, then us that to set up the RAID configuration.

Plausible?

Ku-sama · 10-31-2006, 05:23 PM

yeah, but i would just get the two drives up front, then RAID them, then copy the harddrive to it...

tlarkin · 10-31-2006, 05:30 PM

When you create a RAID you destroy data on the drives. RAID 1 also slows performance as every bit of data is written at the same time on both drives.

Set up the RAID via RAID utility (the raid bios) and then load the OS and all the applications. In the OS you will only see one drive because the other one is constantly being written to, to keep exact clone of the other drive.

If one drive fails, replace it and use the RAID utility to rebuild it.

pbdr · 10-31-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ku-sama

yeah, but i would just get the two drives up front, then RAID them, then copy the harddrive to it...

Sounds like a the best way to go (kind of my thoughts fromt he get-go, but I like to check with the gestalt intelligenc before I try something.

The remianing question is how to copy the existing HDD to the RAID Setup?

I don't really like Norton Ghost all that much (I have an older version). I recently did this using Apricorn easy gig (to clone my laptop HDD onto a 5400 rpm HDD), but I think that required a USB connection (I think).

Any suggestions?

Peter

tlarkin · 10-31-2006, 06:05 PM

How a RAID works in its design will make you wipe both drives (or more) when initially setting it up. Back up your data and start from scratch is the best way to do this.

You want both drives to be totally indentical.

Ghost is not a bad application at all, and if you are going to use newer hardware (ie SATA) I suggest you look into it.

10-30-2006, 07:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
pbdr Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 269	RAID 1 advice I recently had an HDD fail. I was able to recover some of the data, but not all. It was aslo a big pain in the crapper to get everything set up once again. Now I want to use RAID 1 to make sure that this will (most likely) never happen again. Problem is I wasn't thinking about all this when I set up my newest system. My current HDD is IDE; for obvous reasons I want to use SATA connections for my new drive(s). Question 1: Can I RAID 1 an IDE and SATA drive? The aim would be ato "clone" the first drive using RAID 1 and then set up a second, identical SATA drive so I have two matching SATA drives inthe RAID 1 configuration. Question 2: My MOBO (ASUS A8N5X) supports 1.5 gb/s SATA, can I use a 3.0 gb/s SATA drive? If the above scheme is not going to work, what options do I have to prevent the need to re-install every piece of software I have and transfer all data manually? __________________ My current Build: E8400 Wolfdale Gigabyte EP35C DES 4 gig A-DATA DDR2 800 Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 Seagate 320 GB HDD Lite-On Lightscribe DVDRW Raidmax Sagitta (Black) Case

10-31-2006, 04:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
pbdr Gold Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 269	I am looking to use RAID 1 (this is the mirroring setup) as opposed to other backup methods, just for the ease of use. I.e. once it's setup, you basically have a very good backup method running constantly (also, Norton Ghost is a pain in the ass...) From Ku-Sama's reply it appears that I can't really set up RAID 1 with an IDE and SATA drive (I want to go for a 200 gb SATA drive and use it for a while). Next question: Is it possible to clone an IDE HDD to an SATA HDD? This way I could clone my existing HDD onto an SATA drive, then us that to set up the RAID configuration. Plausible? __________________ My current Build: E8400 Wolfdale Gigabyte EP35C DES 4 gig A-DATA DDR2 800 Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 Seagate 320 GB HDD Lite-On Lightscribe DVDRW Raidmax Sagitta (Black) Case

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10-31-2006, 08:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
pip22 Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 30	RAID is not your only option for keeping identical data on a second drive. You could fit a second drive then buy 'Norton Ghost' (pref the 2003 version which runs is DOS) and use it to create an 'image' of your Windows drive on to the secondary drive. Unlike RAID, however, the image can't update itself to keep in sync with new data, but all you need to do is create a new image every couple of weeks. You would also be able to use the second drive for saving other stuff as well as the disk image, something you wouldn't be able to do if it was installed as RAID.

10-31-2006, 09:34 AM	#3 (permalink)
meanman Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: england Posts: 1,864	doesnt raid 1 just share installs between 2 hdds i dont think it backs up the hdd if anything raid 1 is less stable than a ide drive because you are using 2 drives to do one job so if one craps out you lose everything there is a raid that backs up to another drive but im not sure which it is you will have to read the stickys

10-31-2006, 05:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Ku-sama banned Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Computer Cave. AKA: King Computer Inc. Age: 19 Posts: 5,312	yeah, but i would just get the two drives up front, then RAID them, then copy the harddrive to it...

10-31-2006, 05:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 9,931	When you create a RAID you destroy data on the drives. RAID 1 also slows performance as every bit of data is written at the same time on both drives. Set up the RAID via RAID utility (the raid bios) and then load the OS and all the applications. In the OS you will only see one drive because the other one is constantly being written to, to keep exact clone of the other drive. If one drive fails, replace it and use the RAID utility to rebuild it.

10-31-2006, 06:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
tlarkin VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 9,931	How a RAID works in its design will make you wipe both drives (or more) when initially setting it up. Back up your data and start from scratch is the best way to do this. You want both drives to be totally indentical. Ghost is not a bad application at all, and if you are going to use newer hardware (ie SATA) I suggest you look into it.