A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q

Ron" wrote in message

 > Jun 19
 > Greetings. A (hopefully) quick question:
 > I have a pair of SATA drives on the Sil controller. They are configured
as
 > a mirrored array. If I choose to remove one of the drives, can I delete
the
 > array [during boot-up - in the Sil BIOS] and simply carry on with a single
 > drive without losing data?
 >
 > (...or will deleting the array destroy the data on both drives?)
 >
 > Any experiences to share would be appreciated.
 > Regards,
 > Ron
 >

I do believe that you have to have the raid driver for the SATA to be
recognized for a single drive system anyway,so it should boot even if you dont
create a raid array. DOUG
 >> Stay informed about: A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q 

Indeed. You're right insofar as you assume that the system will still boot.
It will, but not without first screaming at me (that my array is damaged).
I suppose I could just tolerate this constant sky-is-falling reminder, but I
would prefer to re-config the Sil BIOS so that it accepts the fact that
there is only ONE drive. (Please see my lower follow-up post)

Thanks, D
Ron
 >> Stay informed about: A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q 

"Ron" wrote in message

 > Jun 19
 > Greetings. A (hopefully) quick question:
 > I have a pair of SATA drives on the Sil controller. They are configured
 > as a mirrored array. If I choose to remove one of the drives, can I
 > delete the array [during boot-up - in the Sil BIOS] and simply carry on
 > with a single drive without losing data?
 >
 > (...or will deleting the array destroy the data on both drives?)


You're using mirrored RAID and you don't even know why... thats a good one.

The WHOLE point of mirroring is that if you remove a drive it will continue
to function.

Ben
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 >> Stay informed about: A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q 

Thanks for your understanding, Ben.

In fact, I fully realize the function/usefulness of an array; whether
striped or mirrored. What I'm pondering is...

....if I remove one drive, it would be the same as if one drive failed.
i.e.: the Sil BIOS will inform me that the array is damaged, but will permit
normal boot-up and operation. But, as long as the Sil BIOS is configured to
believe that there is a mirrored array...then every time I re-boot, it will
remind me that my array is corrupt. **Yes, later, if/when I re-introduced a
second drive, the BIOS would auto-repair the array, and all would be well
again. But in fact, I simply CHOOSE to revert to a single drive set-up for
the time being. So...

Since I wish to remove one of the [perfectly functioning] drives for use in
another machine, I must re-config the Sil BIOS so that it is happy with just
ONE drive. And of course I CAN do it; by deleting the array. But my
concern is that deleting the array will wipe out (or remove access to) the
data on BOTH drives!

Current and future replies are appreciated!
Ron
 >> Stay informed about: A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q 

Ron wrote:
 > Indeed. You're right insofar as you assume that the system will still
 > boot. It will, but not without first screaming at me (that my array is
 > damaged). I suppose I could just tolerate this constant sky-is-falling
 > reminder, but I would prefer to re-config the Sil BIOS so that it accepts
 > the fact that there is only ONE drive. (Please see my lower follow-up
 > post)

Well take a drive out and remove the array.

If it removes the data, put the old drive back (on it's own) and let it
rebuild the array. It SHOULD work like that or there is no point in
mirrored array, is there?

It would be like having a drive fail, for all intents and purposes.

Ben
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A7N8X FAQ: <a rel="nofollow" style='text-decoration: none;' href="http://www.ben.pope.name/a7n8x_faq.html" target="_blank">www.ben.pope.name/a7n8x_faq.html</a>
Questions by email will likely be ignored, please use the newsgroups.
I'm not just a number. To many, I'm known as a String...
 >> Stay informed about: A7N8X Deluxe SATA RAID Q