{"id":1742,"date":"2015-11-19T13:29:18","date_gmt":"2015-11-19T21:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/?p=1742"},"modified":"2023-02-22T10:34:56","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T18:34:56","slug":"ubuntu-whatever-it-takes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/ubuntu-whatever-it-takes\/","title":{"rendered":"Ubuntu with RAID 1 &#8211; Whatever It Takes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of the reasons people trust Pogo Linux to help them solve their IT challenges is they know how much research and development goes into our products. Our engineering team leaves no stone unturned in the process of certifying our systems.<\/p>\n<p>Our clients often need custom RAID configurations on their servers and workstations. Most of the time, the tools that are built into the Linux distro make it easy to configure the system as needed. However, exceptions can and do happen. Here is just one example of how diligence in the product development phase enabled our production team to quickly meet the needs of a customer.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/ubuntu-whatever-it-takes\/#The_Usual_Scenario\" >The Usual Scenario<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/ubuntu-whatever-it-takes\/#The_Edge_Case\" >The Edge Case<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/ubuntu-whatever-it-takes\/#The_Solution\" >The\u00a0Solution<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/ubuntu-whatever-it-takes\/#Just_another_day_at_the_office\" >Just another day at the office<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Usual_Scenario\"><\/span><strong>The Usual Scenario<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When setting up a workstation, it is often desirable to set up the storage drives in some <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"582\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1750\" style=\"width: 200px; height: 166px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/raid1.jpg\" alt=\"RAID 1 - mirrored\" \/>form of RAID for enhanced performance and\/or redundancy. Still, workstations are not always configured with a hardware RAID card. This generally results in a software RAID being set up during the operating system (OS) installation. However, depending on the chosen distro, workarounds are sometimes necessary.<\/p>\n<p>Recently, we received an order for multiple Ubuntu workstations, each specified to have two Solid State Drives (SSDs), configured as a RAID 1 (mirrored pair) with the operating system installed to it. Since there were no hardware RAID cards specified, they\u2019d need to be set up with either software RAID (using an app called DMRAID within the operating system) or Fake RAID (in the system BIOS). Ubuntu Desktop 14.04 was the OS of choice for all six systems.<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"418\" height=\"307\" class=\" wp-image-1752 alignleft\" style=\"width: 221px; height: 162px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/image-installdesktoplongtermsupport-9.png\" alt=\"Installing Ubuntu 14.04\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Since the desktop version of Ubuntu is not equipped to create a software RAID, the server version of Ubuntu is initially installed. (The server version does include tools for building a software RAID.) After the server version is complete, the Desktop version of the OS is installed over the top of it. However, sometimes situations arise that require even more extensive workarounds.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Edge_Case\"><\/span><strong>The Edge Case<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When this order came in, our engineering team recognized that because of the motherboards installed in these workstations, more extra steps would be necessary in order to set up a software RAID on these systems.<\/p>\n<p>When following the initial procedure of installing Ubuntu Server, the system will boot to GRUB, start to load Ubuntu, and then hang. It hangs during the portion of the start-up where the OS mounts the drive partitions. This same configuration works just fine with CentOS and other distros. It is unique to Ubuntu, when it is coupled with the specific motherboard in this system.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Solution\"><\/span><strong>The\u00a0Solution<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"125\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1787 size-full\" style=\"width: 400px; height: 125px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/linux-terminal.png\" alt=\"Installing mdadm\" \/><\/p>\n<p><em>Here is an overview of the procedure to install Ubuntu Desktop 14.04 with a software RAID 1 on this Tempest workstation:<\/em><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Boot up to the system BIOS. Set up a RAID mirrored pair, configured to use the Intel Fake RAID chipset on the motherboard.<\/li>\n<li>Start the desktop OS install by booting into the live DVD version of Ubuntu Server 14.04 and choosing &#8220;Try Ubuntu.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Open a terminal and remove dmraid (RAID management software), which comes by default with the desktop version.<\/li>\n<li>While still at the command line, install MDADM which is a more robust software package for RAID management. Once installed, MDADM will recognize the Intel Fake RAID and see the two drives as one mirrored pair.<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1778 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/Screen-Shot-2015-11-18-at-3.10.20-PM.png\" alt=\"Install failure\" width=\"343\" height=\"65\" \/>Continue with the installation of Ubuntu to the mirrored pair. Near the end of the process, the installation will fail while trying to install GRUB to the MBR. \u00a0This is expected, and nothing to be alarmed about.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"411\" height=\"267\" class=\"alignright wp-image-1774\" style=\"width: 205px; height: 133px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/11\/1335260967.png\" alt=\"boot repair\" \/><br \/>\nReboot the installation DVD\u00a0and choose &#8220;Try Ubuntu&#8221; again. Connect to the internet. Install Boot Repair and run it. Click the button to have the tool fix the boot loader\u00a0and install GRUB.<br \/>\nReboot into the OS and install the customer&#8217;s\u00a0preferred desktop manager.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Just_another_day_at_the_office\"><\/span><strong>Just another day at the office<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>This serves as a great example of how a well researched internal engineering database enables us to predict and overcome any challenges that may arise while designing, building, and supporting the huge variety of solutions that we offer.<\/p>\n<p><em>If you\u2019re interested in learning more about how to install a software RAID on Ubuntu desktop, or how Pogo can help you conquer all of your organization\u2019s IT challenges, <a title=\"Contact Us\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/about\/contact\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">contact us today<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/products\/intel-amd-rackmount-servers\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"500\" height=\"150\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1708 size-full\" style=\"width: 500px; height: 150px;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/rackmount-servers1.jpg\" alt=\"Check out our full line of rackmount servers\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr style=\"border: 0; height: 0; border-top: 1px solid rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); border-bottom: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.3);\" \/>\n<p><i>To learn\u00a0about how Pogo can help you tackle\u00a0the challenges\u00a0your organization is facing, please call us at 888-828-POGO, or email <a title=\"Sales at PogoLinux.com\" href=\"mailto:sales@www.pogolinux.com\">sales@www.pogolinux.com<\/a>.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One of the reasons people trust Pogo Linux to help them solve their IT challenges is they know how much research and development goes into our products. Our engineering team leaves no stone unturned in the process of certifying our systems. Our clients often need custom RAID configurations on their servers and workstations. Most of&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[66,103,3],"tags":[140,73,141,139,138,23],"class_list":["post-1742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-studies","category-general","category-workstations","tag-engineering","tag-linux","tag-rd","tag-raid","tag-ubuntu","tag-workstation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1742"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6219,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions\/6219"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pogolinux.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}