nas:build_a_linux_nas:prepare_the_raid_disks
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Table of Contents
NAS - Build a Linux NAS - Prepare the RAID Disks
Determine the available disks
lsblk
returns:
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 232.9G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 1007K 0 part ├─sda2 8:2 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi ├─sda3 253:28 0 8G 0 part [SWAP] ├─sda4 253:29 0 58G 0 part / sdb 8:32 0 14.6T 0 disk sdc 8:48 0 14.6T 0 disk sdd 8:64 0 14.6T 0 disk
NOTE: This shows:
- sda: The boot disk of the host OS. Leave this alone!
- sdb: A free disk.
- sdc: A free disk.
- sdd: A free disk.
The free disks do not have any partitions yet and will be included into a RAID.
Obtain the Serial Numbers of the Disks
Obtain the serial number for every disk; and keep a record of this somewhere safe.
hdparm -i /dev/sdd | grep SerialNo
returns:
Model=ST16000NM001G-2KK103, FwRev=SB30, SerialNo=WL2091XL
NOTE: Many disks also have the serial number written on the disk.
Initialize the free disks
sudo fdisk /dev/sdb
returns:
Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.36.1). Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them. Be careful before using the write command. Device does not contain a recognized partition table. The size of this disk is 14.6 TiB (16000900661248 bytes). DOS partition table format cannot be used on drives for volumes larger than 2199023255040 bytes for 512-byte sectors. Use GUID partition table format (GPT). Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0xc778227a. Command (m for help):
Create a GPT Partition
Command (m for help): g
returns:
Created a new GPT disklabel (GUID: 6D811672-A5FE-BA4F-8F79-D17E0285C5E1).
NOTE: GPT (GUID Partition Table) is much better than MBR (Master Boot Record) partitions:
- GPT supports much larger disks.
- GPT allows for a nearly unlimited number of partitions.
- GPT also stores cyclic redundancy check (CRC) values to check that its data is intact.
- If the data is corrupted, GPT can notice the problem and attempt to recover the damaged data from another location on the disk.
Create a Linux RAID Partition
Command (m for help): n Partition number (1-128, default 1): First sector (2048-31251759070, default 2048): Last sector, +/-sectors or +/-size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-31251759070, default 31251759070):
returns:
Created a new partition 1 of type 'Linux filesystem' and of size 14.6 TiB.
NOTE: Just taking the default values uses the entire disk.
Print the Partition
Command (m for help): p
returns:
Disk /dev/sdb: 14.55 TiB, 16000900661248 bytes, 31251759104 sectors Disk model: ST16000NM001G-2K Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes Disklabel type: gpt Disk identifier: 6D811672-A5FE-BA4F-8F79-D17E0285C5E1 Device Start End Sectors Size Type /dev/sdb1 2048 31251759070 31251757023 14.6T Linux filesystem
NOTE: This shows that there is a single partition, /dev/sdb1, using the entire disk.
Change the Partition Type
Command (m for help): t Selected partition 1 Partition type or alias (type L to list all): 29
returns:
Changed type of partition 'Linux filesystem' to 'Linux RAID'.
NOTE: The type is changed to Linux RAID, which is type 29.
Print the Partition again
Command (m for help): p
returns:
Disk /dev/sdd: 14.55 TiB, 16000900661248 bytes, 31251759104 sectors Disk model: ST16000NM001G-2K Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes Disklabel type: gpt Disk identifier: EAA2F832-9810-AA45-9DDB-8ED531C20139 Device Start End Sectors Size Type /dev/sdd1 2048 31251759070 31251757023 14.6T Linux RAID
NOTE: This shows the Type has been changed to Linux RAID.
Write the Partition Table
Command (m for help): w
returns:
The partition table has been altered. Calling ioctl() to re-read partition table. Syncing disks.
Partition other Disks
Repeat the above instructions for the other free disks.
Check the available disks again
lsblk
returns:
NAME MAJ:MIN RM SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT sda 8:0 0 232.9G 0 disk ├─sda1 8:1 0 1007K 0 part ├─sda2 8:2 0 512M 0 part /boot/efi ├─sda3 253:28 0 8G 0 part [SWAP] ├─sda4 253:29 0 58G 0 part / sdb 8:32 0 14.6T 0 disk ├─sdb1 8:33 0 14.6T 0 part sdc 8:48 0 14.6T 0 disk ├─sdc1 8:49 0 14.6T 0 part sdd 8:64 0 14.6T 0 disk ├─sdd1 8:65 0 14.6T 0 part
NOTE: This shows the original free disks all now have partitions.
- At this point, these disks can be tied together as a RAID array.
nas/build_a_linux_nas/prepare_the_raid_disks.1632602876.txt.gz · Last modified: 2021/09/25 20:47 by peter