Want to Remove Software RAID

[putz3000]

I am trying to build a storage server using software RAID. After getting writing RAID information to what I thought was the drives, I realized the configuration was not going to work. Since that time I have modified the RAID configuration more than once plus this is a project that was started a few months back. Between the time delays and currently written configuration, things are a confusing mess.

What I would like to do is wipe out all software RAID and start all over again. The problem is that I am unable to figure out how to get rid of it. I used DBAN to wipe out all four of my 1 TB drives which took a while. But still, the RAID configuration pulls up when I try to do a new install.

Where is the RAID configuration data stored at if not on the HD? How can I scrub that information off so I can start all over again?

Thanks,

[arrrghhh]

Software RAID (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SoftwareRAID) Ubuntu Community Doc. Hopefully that helps ;)

[SaturnusDJ]

Zeroing the superblock should work.

[putz3000]

Software RAID (https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Installation/SoftwareRAID) Ubuntu Community Doc. Hopefully that helps ;)

Doesn't look like it. that document is for setting up RAID. What I want to do is remove the RAID configuration, then start again - which is when that document will be handy.

[putz3000]

Zeroing the superblock should work.

I will look into this. thank you

[oldfred]

Not sure where it writes this, this should work.

Presence1960 on remove old raid setting from HD
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1325650
sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sda
sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sdb
Also check BIOS for raid settings
More discusion:
http://wwww.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=9274738#post9274738

[rubylaser]

First, stop the array.

mdadm --stop /dev/md0
Here's how to zero the superblocks.

mdadm --zero-superblock /dev/sdb1
Just do that for each drive in the array.

Finally, remove your /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf file. Now, you should be able to start from scratch assembling a new RAID array, and then adding a filesystem. Hope that helps.

[putz3000]

Not sure if this changes anything, but I am wanting to do this on a system that does not actually have the OS installed yet. I have never made it that far.

So are the command line instructions able to be done from a live cd?

[bigsigh]

Yes, I was zeroing superblocks just tonight with a live Mint dvd.
Enter mdadm, if your distro doesn't have it you'll just need to apt-get.