List, good evening,
I am trying to install Debian onto an LVM, and I want the LVM to use a
pair of disks in a RAID1 configuration. I'm having difficulty
instructing the partitioner to do this.
I have a new, empty, machine with 2 x 3TB disks. This new machine is
intended to replace our existing users-files server, which has nearly
exhausted its current fit of RAID1 on 2 x 2TB disks. (The server of
the files uses samba and NFS.) Some time ago I received advice from
the raid list that in future I could consider using an LVM so that
when an existing volume is full it (if it is an LV) can be extended
across additional disks. Now that our existing system has reached its
capacity limit, I'd like to replace it - and also take that advice.
While trying to install Debian 7.11/amd64 onto the new HW, I reach the
partitioner and can (first) set up a single md (md0) RAID1 over the 2
x 3TB disks. Next I can set up an LVM physical volume (3TB), and I
can then set up a 3TB logical volume for '/'. (I think I'm happy with
the system, /home, and the general 'users-files' filesystem all
sharing the one logical volume - similar to how a simple basic Debian
install can be done on a whole disk.)
But the installer complains because I don't have any swap - and (in
addition) I am unsure if I need to do something different for GRUB and
booting. I first tried using the 'guided' partitioner (I thought it
might 'know best' about needing boot and / and so on) but I didn't
seem to be able to ask it to use RAID *and* LVM. I could ask it to
make a RAID1, or an LVM. May I ask the list a couple of questions?
What partitions - I think I mean logical volumes - might I be best
using for my installation, keeping in mind that I will need to extend
whatever logical volume houses the 'users-files'?
Is using a whole-disk RAID1 a reasonable choice (the kernel raid wiki
suggests this will work) or would folks on the list recommend
configuring multiple mds?
I would be grateful for any guidance,
regards, Ron
