I'm a complete noob to unRAID, but i did try searching, but didn't find a relevant answer, so...

 

I'm currently using the Intel Matrix Raid array for my RAID5 in my HTPC.  I've got 4 1TB drives, mostly full now.

 

I plan to use this same motherboard in the unRAID box I'm building, along with the processor, memory and video card (temporarily until I can remote in, then I'll sell the video card).

 

I have 4 4TB drives to install in the unRAID box to get it started, and will eventually add the 1TB drives, and some others I have.

 

The question is; is there any way to keep the current RAID5 intact, and transfer the data to the unRAID system directly?

 

I don't want to have to copy 2.75 TB of data to external drives, then copy back to the unRAID box if it's avoidable.

 

I'm thinking that it's not going to be possible, but figured I'd ask here before I give up entirely.

 

I don't know if would be possible to do some kind of dual-boot to keep the windows7 ability to see/use the Intel RAID, or if it’s possible some other way.  I suppose I could build the unRAID on a different motherboard to keep the drives separated and transfer over the network, then rebuild it on the correct motherboard after the data is all copied.

 

I hope that makes sense, and appreciate any feedback/guidance/help you can provide.

 

Box will contain the following parts, and I’m expecting to purchase the PRO license…

 

 

Motherboard Foxconn ELA LGA 775 Intel G33 ATX Intel Motherboard

Processor Intel      Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core

Cooler      Rosewill RCX-Z300 92mm Ball CPU Cooler

Memory  Patriot  Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)

Current Hard Drives (4) Samsung Spinpoint F1 1TB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal

Hard Drives (4) Hitachi  Deskstar 3TB 5400 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal

Case        Rosewill RSV-L4000 Black Metal / Steel, 1.0 mm thickness, 4U Rackmount Server Chassis 8 Internal Bays, 7 Included Cooling Fans

Power Supply XFX        Core Edition PRO550W ATX12V 2.2 & ESP12V 2.91 SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC

SATA card HighPoint RocketRAID 640 PCI-Express 2.0 x4 SATA III (6.0Gb/s) Controller Card

 

I am pretty sure that what you're asking to do is just not possible without using external storage (or backup, as some of us call it... )

 

The way that data is organised under RAID 5 is very different from unRAID.  In RAID 5 the data is on a file may be split across drives, and so is the filing system.  In unRAID, each file only exists on one drive and each drive has its own filing system.  Those differences mean that you cannot reconfigure the drives from one form to the other without using storage elsewhere.

Copy the data over Gig-E using rsync. Let it run overnight. Here's info on rsync: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=13432.0

Yeah, I figured that.

 

I know the systems are different, and suspect it cannot be done either.  However, I asked on another forum and was told it might be possible and to post here to see if anyone had any ideas on how it could be done.

 

The Linux distribution that unraid uses CAN mount NTFS files, at least from an external USB device, and unRAID can co-exist on the same build as NTFS drives. You amy well be able to do what you're looking for,  but it will be a little complex. I am fairly confident it can be done. All you have to do is to make sure that the NTFS drives are not part of the array under the DEVICES tab, so do NOT assign them to any of unRAIDS 20 data, one parity and one cache slots. But, really, you should ask this question of the real unraid experts at limetech.

 

What I had imagined is to put all the hardware in the unRAID box, including the current boot drive, then install unRAID off the thumb drive, format (preclear?) only the new drives, then reboot into windows, access the RAID5 array, then copy to the new drives, but I don't know if unRAID will see the data properly (or more likely, Windows won't see the unRAID drives properly) if I do could it this way , since I believe they are formatted differently.

 

I don't know anything close to sufficient about LINUX to know if there is a way to use unRAID to grab the data off the RAID5 array, since I think it requires the Intel Matrix Array to be running to understand the indexing.

 

Again, I'm assuming it can't work, but hope there's a way I'm not seeing that will save me the extra copy step, and I could also avoid USB 2.0 speeds to copy 3TB of data; twice

If you format the new drive in unRAID they should be mountable in windows if you install ReiserFS drivers.

If you format the new drive in unRAID they should be mountable in windows if you install ReiserFS drivers.

mountable, yes... Writable, no....

 

Unless things changed in the past year, there are no drivers for windows which allow you to WRITE to a reiserfs.

 

Joe L.

Bottom line no.

 

This can not be done easily if at all.

Your raid5 is a software raid. Basically you run intel storage matrix in windows to make the raid work.

 

To my knowledge the Linux drivers don't exist. If they did you would have to manually add them to unraid and still mount the rais as an ntfs drive. You would also have to use v5beta7 or newer for gpt support.

 

The easiest solution is to copy off your data to 2 new 2tb drive with something like beyond compare to make sure your data is 100% good before you break apart the old array.

 

You can then preclear the 1tb drives, put your 1tb drives into unraid. build a new unraid array with those drives. Copy the data to Unraid. If the data is good, run a parity check just to be sure. The add the 2tb to unraid, upgrading the parity drive with one of them.

 

If you had a true hardware raid5. You would probably be able to mount it in unraid to copy the data.

 

Sorry..

 

 

Edit:

I just looked at your build specs. You could probably use 3tb instead of 2tb as I mentioned

Also I'm not sure that highpoint card works in unraid. You might want to check first. I would recommend the saslp-mv8 instead.

Bottom line no.

This can not be done easily if at all.

Sorry..

 

Excellent answer.  It stopped any further time being invested in finding it

 

Edit:

I just looked at your build specs. You could probably use 3tb instead of 2tb as I mentioned

Also I'm not sure that highpoint card works in unraid. You might want to check first. I would recommend the saslp-mv8 instead.

I actually have all the data copied onto 2 2TB external drives, and it's still in tact on the original RAID array.

 

Now that our visiting company has safely returned to their homes, I have finished disassembling the old HTPC and put much of those parts into the new box (and built 2 other computers) and I have confirmed that unRAID loads from the thumb drive I have. Good news.

 

It sees the 4 drives from the existing RAID5 array, and sees that there are (the 3TB new) drives, but cannot access them, not surprisingly.  I assume this is due to it not liking the HighPoint RocketRAID 640 card.  Windows also doesn't see it/them either, and I haven't tried updating any drivers yet.  I see plenty of drivers offered for it, and will install the windows drivers later this evening.

 

There are BIOS drivers also, but I imagine they have some BIOS installed, so i'll not worry about that for now.

 

http://www.highpoint-tech.cn/BIOS_Driver/page/rr640.htm

 

As for Linux, there is an "Open Source driver" that "Supports Linux Kernel v2.4.x and v2.6.x ( x86 and x86_64)" and there are installers for 6 flavors of Linux, Mac and FreeDSB.  i hope one of those can be used to get this card working on unRAID.  I've read just a little so far, but I've seen "recompile Linux" mentioned a few times.  I have ZERO experience with this, but I'm sure I could learn.  I doubt it's worth it to me vs. getting a recommended card instead, but maybe some day.

 

For now, I'm wondering how to even attempt to install any of the drivers for any of the flavors, or what my next step in unRAID is should the windows driver and/or BIOS install not magically resolve my issue, which I don't expect?  I built, setup and "managed" a Linux mail server about 10 years ago, but remember little of Linux, so I'm still trying to learn what I need to learn, so sorry for any stupid questions.

 

I've also read about setting up other RocketRaid cards, and I'm going to try this, if possible on this card also, but then I'm about out of ideas on what I might try next, if necessary.

 

Special Instructions: Need to disable "INT13" and "Reallocate EBDA" by booting to DOS disk and flashing with latest BIOS. Only when Flashing do you get the option to change these settings. Afterwards, it will work fine. You can also simply hit the END key when the cards BIOS screen comes up, but have to do that each time.

 

Any suggestions will be welcome, and I'll report back my progress as soon as I have something to report