[ILUG] configuring hardware RAID.

[Paul Murray]

On Wed, Apr 21, 2010 at 1:26 PM, Darragh <lists at digitaldarragh.com> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am looking for a way of configuring hardware RAID on a Dell poweredge 1950 server via Linux.

WOuldn't that mean that the raid array was already in use and loaded
and that you couldn't make changes?

> Due to a few reasons, the dell utility CD and the BIOS aren't accessible to me.

Sounds like its in a datacenter and possibly abroad if its not
accessible to you in any way shape or form.

> I would love a console or even a GTK based solution that I could access remotely via SSH
> that would let me do this independently.

1) Console redirection to a serial port and connect it to the serial
port of another machine, but I still don't think thats going to kick
in early enough to do the deed.

2) IPMI add in card and another network presentation, will require a
local set of hands to install the card

3) KVM over IP, I put a belkin single console one in a data center
last night, web vnc over SSL, and now I can connect at a console level
to that particular machine and make my bios changes remotely. Again
will require remote hands to install for you if you can't get physical
access to it, and requires an additional network presentation.

> Any suggestions?

Software raid as was suggested.

> I've seen some documentation but it's very old and talks of recompiling the kernel
> with very specific options. I assume a better option exists.

For my mind, the hardware raid is always configured from the hardware
raids bios boot screen before it has the remotest chance of being
mounted and being in use. I find it hard to imagine configuring it at
any other stage to be honest. But then that could just be my limited
view on the situation!!

Paul.