Hi all!
I am trying to install Ubuntu on a fakeRAID array (configured as raid1 = mirroring) in a dual booting configuration with WinXP.
I got a Gigabyte p35ds3r mobo, with an Intel Ich9r chipset.
I have on my back a succesful experience of dual booting WinXP and Gentoo on the same fakeRAID setup, which I decided to switch to a WinXP-Ubuntu because I run out of stamina while installing the wonderfully configurable, box-optimized Nvidia drivers + XorgX11 + LightGnome...
I read the Ubuntu FakeRAID Howto, the Ubuntu FakeRAID 0 HowTo and How to Multi-Boot.
I tried to post on these threads-howtos to get help, but on one thread I was slightly off-topic, while the other looks a bit in a lull of activity. Moreover, noone concerned Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron) so far.
So I decided to start a new thread, thinking this might be useful to other folks, too. Just think how many people with a WinXP fakeRAID box are trying to avoid the Vista tourist trap, but are not yet confident enough to jettison the, ahem, Linus deck of WinXP. Or want to keep playing that cool game which unfortunately does not run pleasantly in Wine. But still would like to plunge the toes into Linux, with as few problems as possible.
Ok, now to business. What I did:
- I boot the Ubuntu 8.04 install CD
- I installed dmraid: sudo apt-get install dmraid; sudo dmraid -r
- I saw the array as expected, and I partitioned it: sudo fdisk /dev/mapper/myarrayfunkyname
- I rebooted in order to read the modified partition table
- After reboot (and reinstallation of dmraid) I saw again the array (as expected) with the updated partition table
- I formatted the new partitions without problems (2 EXT3, 1 SWAP and 1 EXT2), then I shut down to go to sleep.
The day after I tried to go on with my "monkey sees, monkey does" approach through the howtos.
- I boot the Ubuntu 8.04 install CD
- I installed dmraid: sudo apt-get install dmraid; sudo dmraid -r
- dmraid installs and drop a line quoting myarrayfunkyname, which pleases me. Unfortunately, the folder /dev/mapper appears EMPTY with the exception of a "control" file or item. That's right, the array is not there anymore.
- I reboot without the install CD to check the sanity of my array (and mine) and find myself in the awkward situation of feeling relieved when looking at the windows logo of XP, oozily booting to life (?).
Any ideas how the Bad Thing happened?
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