Adding non-RAID backup disk to system with RAID 1...

[BorderAmigos]

I'm setting up a new server. I couldn't get the Debian Lenny to set up on software RAID 1 using the Debian install disk. So I installed to one disk only then followed the HowTo on how to set up RAID 1 on a running system.

http://www.howtoforge.com/software-r...ot-debian-etch

This all seemed to go well. Then I followed the Perfect Server setup for Debian Lenny to install ISPConfig 3.

http://www.howtoforge.com/perfect-se...nny-ispconfig3

Again, all seemed to go well.

Now I want to add a single hard disk to the system as a backup storage. It is identical to the first two used in the RAID 1 set up. I can attach it while the system is running, partition it, and format it for ext3. I added it in /etc/fstab as /dev/sdc1 mounted at /media/backup. Even gave it a label of backup using e2label. Ok so far?

But I have a problem when I try to reboot. The grub loader comes up with the normal menu showing the RAID boot disks (HD0:0) and (HD1:0) but then I get 2 errors, one for each saying it can't find the files (boot image). It appears to be trying to boot off the 3rd drive instead of the RAID. If I disconnect the 3rd drive and cycle power it will boot ok. So how can I get the 3rd drive to not conflict?

To be clearer, the 3rd disk is not intended to be part of the RAID. It should show as a separate disk.

/etc/fstab

# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
#
proc            /proc	proc    defaults        0 0
/dev/md0	/boot	ext3	defaults	0 0
/dev/md1	/	ext3	errors=remount-ro	0 0
/dev/md2	none	swap	sw	0 0
/dev/sdc1	/media/backup	ext3	defaults	0 0
/dev/sdd0	/media/cdrom0   udf,iso9660 user,noauto     0 0

fdisk -l (without 3rd drive)

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000e2872

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1         122      979933+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda2             123       76350   612301410   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda3           76351       77825    11847937+  fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/sdb: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00053a7b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1         122      979933+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb2             123       76350   612301410   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb3           76351       77825    11847937+  fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/md0: 1003 MB, 1003356160 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 244960 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md1: 626.9 GB, 626996543488 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 153075328 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md2: 12.1 GB, 12132220928 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 2961968 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

fdisk -l (with 3rd drive mounted)

Disk /dev/sda: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000e2872

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sda1   *           1         122      979933+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda2             123       76350   612301410   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sda3           76351       77825    11847937+  fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/sdb: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00053a7b

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdb1   *           1         122      979933+  fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb2             123       76350   612301410   fd  Linux raid autodetect
/dev/sdb3           76351       77825    11847937+  fd  Linux raid autodetect

Disk /dev/md0: 1003 MB, 1003356160 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 244960 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md1: 626.9 GB, 626996543488 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 153075328 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/md2: 12.1 GB, 12132220928 bytes
2 heads, 4 sectors/track, 2961968 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 8 * 512 = 4096 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

Disk /dev/sdc: 640.1 GB, 640135028736 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 77825 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x00000000

   Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
/dev/sdc1               1       77825   625129281   83  Linux

If I find the answer elsewhere I'll post it here for reference. Meanwhile, if there is an obvious solution to someone out there, please post the details. Thanks.

[BorderAmigos]

I think writing the question in a post puts my thoughts in order as I sometimes find the answer shortly after.

A BIOS setting seems to fix the issue. Checking the HARD DISK CONFIGURATION under the BOOT tab in the BIOS with just the two RAID drives attached shows...

SATA:SM-WDC WD6400
SATA:3M-WDC WE6400

Connecting the 3rd drive and cycling power the BIOS then shows...

SATA:SM-WDC WD6400
SATA:SS-WDC WD6400
SATA:3M-WDC WE6400

So disabling the SS one from the boot configuration and restarting. System booted up ok a few times in a row with the 3rd drive mounted in /media/backup.

Maybe this will assist someone else with this issue.

Now on to the 1u chassis overheating the CPU with the cover on. Ugh.