Re: Problem booting RAID1/mdadm system when one disk is unplugged

[Justin Piszcz <jpiszcz@lucidpixels.com>]

On Fri, 1 Sep 2006, James Brown wrote:

> All,
>
> I have already posted this question to gmane.linux.raid, but would really 
> appreciate some help from a Debian perspective please...
>
> My System has 2x120GB IDE disks with the an up-to-date Sarge install, running 
> kernel 2.6.8-3 and configured for mirroring.
>
> When I tested booting my system, I found:
>
> a) A kernel panic unless both disks are plugged in.
> b) One disk removes from the array each reboot.
>
> The relevant logs are on this thread:
> http://article.gmane.org/gmane.linux.raid/13033/match=newbie+kernel+panic+raid1
>
> I was advised this was a problem with my initrd because it didn't contain a 
> mdadm.conf file and presumably that I should
>
> Unfortunately, some friends of mine do not agree that my initrd is the 
> problem because they point out that I can still boot when two disks are 
> present. What do people here think?
>
> Thanks in advance
>
> James.
>
>
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1) You do not need an initrd at all.
2) I would make sure you are booting from the /dev/md* partition.
3) You must have a /boot on a /dev/md partition.
4) You need LILO installed with the special raid option in the config.
5) I have done this and tested by pulling each HDD out and it working
   successfully with Debian + 2x74GB raptors.

Justin.