how to raid mac pro hds

[ansirone]

hi there,

i have 3 hds in my mac pro:

250 original hd
300 gig hd
500 gig hd

would you suggest to raid these hds? i would like atleast the 250 and 300 raided.

for now, i just cloned each drive with leopard for back up, which seems kinda pointless to me. but just to be on the safe side.

any help would be appreicated. thanks!

 

[TEG]

You can do it through software in Disk Utility, otherwise it requires extra hardware.

TEG

 

[nanofrog]

You could use software RAID to stripe (RAID0) the 250GB and 300GB drives, and use the 500GB unit as a backup.
Keep in mind, the stripe would be based on the smaller of the two drives, resulting in 500GB total.

If you do decide to use a stripe, make sure you keep everything you need backed up. Otherwise, you will be hating life when a drive fails.

 

[ansirone]

can you lead me to a tutorial on how to go about doing a striped raid?

and ya, ill defintely back for sure.

 

[nanofrog]

The following came from Apple's support site: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2559?viewlocale=en_US

Steps to set up RAID

Setting up a RAID array in Mac OS X is part of the installation process. This procedure assumes that you have already installed Mac OS 10.1 and the hard drive subsystem (two hard drives and a PCI controller card, for example) that RAID will be implemented on. Follow these steps:

1. Open Disk Utility (/Applications/Utilities).
2. When the disks appear in the pane on the left, select the disks you wish to be in the array and drag them to the disk panel.
3. Choose Stripe or Mirror from the RAID Scheme pop-up menu.
4. Name the RAID set.
5. Choose a volume format. The size of the array will be automatically determined based on what you selected.
6. Click Create.


Recovering from a hard drive failure on a mirrored array

1. Open Disk Utility in (/Applications/Utilities).
2. Click the RAID tab. If an issue has occurred, a dialog box will appear that describes it.
3. If an issue with the disk is indicated, click Rebuild.
4. If Rebuild does not work, shut down the computer and replace the damaged hard disk.
5. Repeat steps 1 and 2.
6. Drag the icon of the new disk on top of that of the removed disk.
7. Click Rebuild.

The link gives a brief description of the RAID types, so take a look if needed.

Hope this helps.

 

[ansirone]

I'd love to do this, so here's the delema. Since i cloned each hd with a copy of os x,I have some info stored in each hd. For example, I started using the 500 for all work related material while I used the 300 for personal storage, while the 250 had the inital install of os x. So everything is pretty scatterbrained. What's the best way to pile everything so I can raid the 2 drives? Thanks for all the assitance nano btw

 

[nanofrog]

I'd love to do this, so here's the delema. Since i cloned each hd with a copy of os x,I have some info stored in each hd. For example, I started using the 500 for all work related material while I used the 300 for personal storage, while the 250 had the inital install of os x. So everything is pretty scatterbrained. What's the best way to pile everything so I can raid the 2 drives? Thanks for all the assitance nano btw

But of course life must be difficult.
I'll assume that you don't have another HDD, or access to NAS/off-site storage.

So, you'd likely have to backup anything on the 500GB to DVD's. You can do the same for the smaller drives, or you could then wipe the 500GB, and copy anything from the smaller two you want to keep. (Assuming of course, it doesn't exceed the 500GB drive formatted capacity).

At this point, everything should be backed up, so you can get started on setting up the RAID. You may want to keep the OS X install disks nearby, just in case.

Reload any saved files from the DVD's and the 500GB drive to the RAID array. Wipe the 500GB, and set it up in Time Machine. Let it make the initial backup.
Done.

Good Luck!

 

[ansirone]

But of course life must be difficult.
I'll assume that you don't have another HDD, or access to NAS/off-site storage.

So, you'd likely have to backup anything on the 500GB to DVD's. You can do the same for the smaller drives, or you could then wipe the 500GB, and copy anything from the smaller two you want to keep. (Assuming of course, it doesn't exceed the 500GB drive formatted capacity).

At this point, everything should be backed up, so you can get started on setting up the RAID. You may want to keep the OS X install disks nearby, just in case.

Reload any saved files from the DVD's and the 500GB drive to the RAID array. Wipe the 500GB, and set it up in Time Machine. Let it make the initial backup.
Done.

Good Luck!

and to set it all up i just run the disc utilty on os x install this?

thanks for the assistance nanofrog!

 

[nanofrog]

and to set it all up i just run the disc utilty on os x install this?

thanks for the assistance nanofrog!

Yes.
Not that difficult to set up.
The previous post was pertinent to your current drive situation...What to do before you use Disk Utility, since you have data on them you want.

 

[ansirone]

Yes.
Not that difficult to set up.
The previous post was pertinent to your current drive situation...What to do before you use Disk Utility, since you have data on them you want.

thanks nano,

ok last few perliminary dumb questions from me before i start it:

does it matter which HD's in the slots? the 250 is in the first slot in the mac pro 2nd is the 300 then lastly is the 500 i have one left that is open. i am assuming that it doesn't matter does it?

once i combine the 2 hds, would i still be able to do a boot camp install of windows xp?

lastly, would you do a time machine back up or would do carbon copy cloned hd?

 

[nanofrog]

thanks nano,

ok last few perliminary dumb questions from me before i start it:

does it matter which HD's in the slots? the 250 is in the first slot in the mac pro 2nd is the 300 then lastly is the 500 i have one left that is open. i am assuming that it doesn't matter does it?

No.
The locations you want to use will be just fine.

once i combine the 2 hds, would i still be able to do a boot camp install of windows xp?

Not on the stripe. Software RAID is dependent on the OS, so XP wouldn't be able to access a stripe set-up in OS X. Either put it on the 500GB, or get another HDD.

You could try to partition the 300GB drive into a 250 and 50GB slice, and put the XP install on the 50GB. Not sure if this would work, as I've never done this. I've always used identical capacity drives in RAID.

lastly, would you do a time machine back up or would do carbon copy cloned hd?

Your choice.
I've noticed quite a few members who seem to have a preference for a 3rd party solution like Carbon Copy. You can always try Time Machine first, as you already have it. Then decide if you like it, or want to switch.

Good luck, and post how you get on.
NF.

 

[ansirone]

thanks nano,

ok last few perliminary dumb questions from me before i start it:

No.
The locations you want to use will be just fine.


Not on the stripe. Software RAID is dependent on the OS, so XP wouldn't be able to access a stripe set-up in OS X. Either put it on the 500GB, or get another HDD.

You could try to partition the 300GB drive into a 250 and 50GB slice, and put the XP install on the 50GB. Not sure if this would work, as I've never done this. I've always used identical capacity drives in RAID.

Your choice.
I've noticed quite a few members who seem to have a preference for a 3rd party solution like Carbon Copy. You can always try Time Machine first, as you already have it. Then decide if you like it, or want to switch.

Good luck, and post how you get on.
NF.

thanks nanofrog! ill get on this tonight!!

 

[ansirone]

thanks nano,

ok last few perliminary dumb questions from me before i start it:



thanks nanofrog! ill get on this tonight!!

ok, so i've backed up everything and im ready to erase the 2 hds.

what erase method do recommend? i want everthing totally clean.

 

[nanofrog]

ok, so i've backed up everything and im ready to erase the 2 hds.

what erase method do recommend? i want everthing totally clean.

Take a look at this thread.
Basically, grab the install disk, open utility, and click erase. Once you do this, there is a security button. Enter the number of passes you prefer. Just keep in mind, this process takes a while. As in, start it and go to sleep/work...

Read over the linked thread, and decide what you prefer. BTW, creating a stripe, will basically do it for you anyway as it configures the stripes, so I wouldn't go crazy.

I'll keep my fingers crossed. Good Luck.
NF.