In the previous post I said that you cannot boot from the software RAID array. In fact, this is not true. All the widespread bootloaders, from Windows NT, Linux LILO, and GRUB, would successfully load OS from a RAID 1 (mirror volume).
It should be noted that some further actions must be undertaken for RAID 1 boot volume when you plan to build a RAID.
Since the mirroring technique does not extend to the Master Boot Record (MBR), you must copy the MBR manually between drives in a software mirror. Otherwise, once the primary (boot) drive fails, you will end up with an unbootable system.
Surely, there will be no irreversible data loss - all you need is to just mount the disk into some other machine and read it, but you get no automatic recovery in case the disk fails in operation, requiring a reboot.
Showing posts with label bootable software RAID. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bootable software RAID. Show all posts
Friday, October 14, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Make a software RAID bootable?
Is it possible to create a bootable software RAID0, RAID 5, or spanned volume containing a Windows installation?
Unfortunately, no. It is not possible to boot from a software RAID0, RAID5, or spanned volume. A hardware RAID controller is required to do this.
You cannot start an OS from the software RAID because the RAID is not accessible until the OS is fully started up, and the operating system itself is on the array.
Unfortunately, no. It is not possible to boot from a software RAID0, RAID5, or spanned volume. A hardware RAID controller is required to do this.
You cannot start an OS from the software RAID because the RAID is not accessible until the OS is fully started up, and the operating system itself is on the array.
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