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Dedicated server with Fake RAID
| Posted by mkreder, 10-20-2016, 12:17 PM |
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Hi,
This request might sounds a little weird but I work for a software start-up and we need a dedicated server with Fake RAID to do a couple of tests for a few days.
Fake RAID works this way: When you enable RAID on the BIOS, it records special metadata on the disks. Then, the OS, reads the disks and configures a software RAID.
We need to test Centos5 with dmraid, and in order to test that, we need fake RAID.
Fake RAID is not very popular in modern high-end servers but it was very common a few years back.
Thanks for you help in advance,
Matt
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| Posted by user54321, 10-20-2016, 12:46 PM |
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Fake RAID doesn't work that way. dmraid works independent from your bios setting because it is software RAID
Fake RAID make only sense on older Windows Server versions because they aren't able to install themself on a software RAID and Hardware RAID with dedicated controller were expensive that days.
So in general go with software RAID if you have a not to old *nix or windows server 2012 or newer. For outdated OS go with Hardware RAID
Last edited by user54321; 10-20-2016 at 12:50 PM.
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| Posted by mkreder, 10-20-2016, 01:57 PM |
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I am not deciding here if I have to go with Software RAID or Hardware RAID. I am not asking for advice. I need a dedicated server with Fake RAID to test dmraid. This is a very particular testing scenario.
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| Posted by porcupine, 10-20-2016, 02:10 PM |
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Wouldn't it be easier to search for a configuration that supports that in BIOS, then picking up that server with a KVM over IP, or ILO/DRAC/IPMI option for your own custom OS requirements?
Stuff like this is finicky, and I think that's like your best bet-- Most providers don't want to get stuck in the middle of the fiddly bits of a custom/non-standard configuration for a single server that'll be rented for a single month [I don't know any that will rent for "a few days"]).
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| Posted by (Stephen), 10-20-2016, 02:15 PM |
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Seems like you could use virtually any cheap fakeraid enabled AMD or Intel desktop motherboard locally and test this much better, and faster. You can get a board with cpu using either one for under $70 and have it for testing other items later.
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| Posted by mkreder, 10-20-2016, 02:19 PM |
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Yes, but there are many servers with that configuration so I was waiting for some dedicated host providers to say "I have that".
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| Posted by mkreder, 10-20-2016, 02:21 PM |
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Thanks. I agree with you but I need this "server" to be in the US or Europe since I need to test data migration.
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| Posted by porcupine, 10-20-2016, 02:29 PM |
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So you're waiting for a host to break the rules? Hosts aren't allowed to advertise/solicit in these forums, so .... yeah.
If you already know of "many servers with that configuration", why are you opening a thread at all? Why not simply go and rent one?
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| Posted by SenseiSteve, 10-20-2016, 03:38 PM |
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Unfortunately, no member here can come forward to say that as they'd be breaking forum rules against self advertising. Better to just contact a few providers who you think you may be interested in working with and contact them, then take it from there. Good luck, sir.
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| Posted by madRoosterTony, 10-20-2016, 06:03 PM |
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I think you would be better off finding some hosts that have pricing you are comfortable with and then asking them what motherboard they use on that server. This would then allow you to look up the specs of that motherboard and see if it has what you want.
Also you do understand that almost now one uses Centos 5 anymore due to the security concerns with it now
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| Posted by Red Squirrel, 10-21-2016, 02:26 AM |
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Are you talking about Linux md raid but for the OS drive itself? No idea how that even works given it's run BY the OS, but it can be done. I can confirm that OVH does it and that's how my current server is setup. I think the way it works is that there is two /boot partitions and there is enough data/binaries to load the raid, and then it continues to load the rest of the OS once the raid is built by the boot loader. Something like that. Whatever sorcery it does, I can confirm it works.
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| Posted by (Stephen), 10-21-2016, 04:38 PM |
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dmraid is different than mdraid. dmraid is a tool that tries to make 'bios raid' 'fakeraid' etc accessible to the linux OS and work without much issue.
https://linux.die.net/man/8/dmraid
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