Re: How to install grub on fakeraid (raid 0) which spans 2 TB?

[Bruce Dubbs]

André Heynatz wrote:
> > André Heynatz wrote:
> > > I have bought two 1 TB harddisks and one 2 TB harddisk (backup). 
> > > I want to use the 1 TB harddisks in a RAID 0 array (Intel ICH8R

> > > P ntfs  300 GB Windows XP SP3 32 Bit P ntfs  300 GB Windows 7 32
> > > Bit E L swap    2 GB Linux swap L ext4  250 GB Ubuntu Linux 9.10
> > > (Karmic) 32 Bit L ntfs 1100 GB data (for data exchange and
> > > storage) L ext4   48 GB spare space for testing of new OSes
> > I'd suggest:
> >
> > P ext2  100 MB /boot P ntfs  300 GB Windows XP SP3 32 Bit P ntfs
> > 300 GB Windows 7 32 Bit E L swap    2 GB Linux swap L ext4  250 GB
> > Ubuntu Linux 9.10 (Karmic) 32 Bit L ntfs 1100 GB data (for data
> > exchange and storage) L ext4   48 GB spare space for testing of new
> > OSes
> >
> > There is no need for /boot to be on a raid or other 'special'
> > partition type.
> >
> > -- Bruce
>
> Hello Bruce,
>
> thanks for the suggestion. But in order to do this I would need to
> remove the perfectly working Windows XP and Windows 7 systems to do
> this which would be a pity. 

No, not really.  From your post I thought you you were working with a 
blank HD.  Try this:

P ntfs  300 GB Windows XP SP3 32 Bit
P ntfs  300 GB Windows 7 32 Bit
P ext2  100 MB /boot
E
L swap    2 GB Linux swap
L ext4  250 GB Ubuntu Linux 9.10 (Karmic) 32 Bit
L ntfs 1100 GB data (for data exchange and storage)
L ext4   48 GB spare space for testing of new OSes

I like to use the first partition as /boot, but there is no requirement 
to do that.  I think you can use a logical partition too, but I'm not 
100% sure.

GRUB normally uses a BIOS call as a part of its internal process.  The 
extended call is defined for up to 2^48 sectors.  That is far larger 
than any disk available today.  Any limitation, if it exists, is in the 
BIOS.

> I feel that Linux just CAN do it with
> Fakeraid, only a tiny bit of work is needed for support. I managed to
> install Linux on Fakeraid three years ago, with a complicated
> procedure. It worked like a charm, until I needed more capacity. This
> time it is a little bit more difficult to get to a solution. I do not
> care if it is GRUB1 or GRUB2, it should work with both because we are
> at a turning point and cannot neglect the fact that we need a
> transition period. I assume that GRUB is to serve users well of
> course. 

That's your choice of course.  I haven't worked with any SW raid.  I've 
always thought that HW raid was a better choice.  After all, the value 
of your data is far greater than any raid device.

  -- Bruce