[Pc_Support] Re: WinXP 64-Bit Software Raid Setup Howto? -- Linux-Windows XP compatibility

[Bryan J. Smith]

"Bryan J. Smith" <b.j.smith at ieee.org> wrote:
> So I'm getting the full kernel RAID-1 support, and not the vendor's
> limited capability.  As long as DeviceMapper handles the
> organization correctly, I shouldn't have any data loss.  We'll see.

And when I say "handles the organization correctly," I mean I am not
only accessing Linux filesystems but also _FAT32_filesystems_ being
read/written to by Windows XP Home/Pro!  I literally used Linux's
DeviceMapper to copy over existing FAT32 volumes, including dd'ing
the C: drive a booting Windows XP copy!

The scenario was ...

1.  Install new nForce 4/410 mainboard with SATA drives (new RAID-1)
and install Fedora Core 5, reserve C: and slice/format D: --
automagically sets up GRUB, etc...

2.  Temporarily unplug SATA drives, put in 3Ware card and ATA drives
(old RAID-1) into new nForce 4/410 mainboard and load nForce drivers
under Windows XP Home/Pro

3.  Reconnect SATA drives, 3Ware card and ATA drives are now
secondary hard disk (SATA boots first), boot Fedora Core 5 and use dd
to copy C: and then find|cpio D:.

4.  Remove 3Ware card and ATA drives and boot Windows XP Home/Pro
from new SATA volume

(device detection, re-activation PITA, etc... but it works)

Linux LVM2/DeviceMapper software RAID-1 and the nVidia nForce
software RAID-1 driver are working perfectly together in a dual-boot.


-- 
Bryan J. Smith   Professional, Technical Annoyance
b.j.smith at ieee.org    http://thebs413.blogspot.com
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