Re: Vaio Z RAID 0
Hi Dan,
the good news is that I can confirm that it is possibly to run Linux
on a VAIO SVZ13, using the original Intel-RAID0 and without destroying
the pre-installed Windows. The bad news is that the way I did it is
probably not easy to follow for everyone, and it might require some luck
(i.e. using the correct versions of everything, and in the right order).
Unfortunately I cannot give you precise advice, but maybe telling you
about my experiences installing Linux on this device will be of some help.
However, in my case I did not install Debian Wheezy but Xubuntu 12.04.
For this I had to use Ubuntu's "alternate installer", which I believe
behaves very similar to the Debian installer, although I guess there
are some differences.
But before running any installer, I actualled used a Linux-Live-CD (GRML
2012.05) to back up (using ntfsclone) and shrink (using ntfsresize)
the Windows partitions and to repartition (using fdisk -uc) the
Intel-RAID0. If I recall correctly, the original partitioning was:
p1 = recovery
p2 = Windows boot loader
p3 = Windows 7
p4 = hibernation
I deleted p1 and p4 and shrank p3. Later during the installation, I used
p1 for the Linux / filesystem, and the space gained from p3&p4 for /home.
I do not recall having any trouble creating the filesystems. But if
I had, I would have tried creating the filesystems manually via GRML,
and then telling the installer to simply use the existing filesystems
(which I believe is possible, but admittedely I'm not completely sure).
For me the biggest snag was installing GRUB to the MBR, which requires
giving the correct device name, i.e. /dev/mappers/isw_something or so.
But in the end it worked, and dual-booting between Windows and Linux works
fine so far. As such, I cannot confirm the statement from Julien's blog
that "this kind of RAID is not supported correctly by GRUB".
Another internet resource which might contain helpful hints is this
thread:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sony/675057-ubuntu-linux-svz1311.html
Hope this helps and good luck,
Frank
P.S. this is the first time I use google-mail to reply to this list,
so if this ends up in the wrong place or breaking the thread, I apologize.
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