RAID-5 Partition

[Jarhed7276]

Hi,
I am going to build a file server that requires RAID-5. I will be using Partition Magic 8 to partition and format 4 40 gig Maxtor hard drives. My question is do I need to make the first partition on each drive active or just the drive with the OS on it?

Thanks,
Gerry

[scsiraid]

Do you mean BEFORE you hook them to the RAID controller??? The formatting takes place to the virtual drive created by the RAID controller. Any data on the drives before connecting to the RAID controller is toast after you create an array out of them.

[Midknyte]

you need to create the array first, THEN partition and format.

If you're using a RAID controller, you'll have to go into the card's settings to create a new array.

are you using software RAID in Win2k? You cannot create a RAID5 array with the system partition if you are doing Win2k software RAID. Only RAID1 is allowed.

[Jarhed7276]

I am going to use a Promise Supertrax SX 6000 and Win2k server.
So I should go ahead and connect all 4 hd's, load the raid drivers. Then it will give me the option to partition and format?

Gerry

[Midknyte]

First, you need to boot to the promise bios and create the array first. after that, your system will see the array as one large drive (plus parity etc.). boot from the win2k cd and run the setup. you can create your system partition from the win2k setup.

[Jarhed7276]

OK thank you very much.

Gerry