create RAID before OS install?

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cinemaster

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Sep 29, 2013
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Hi,

I'm building a new system and am finding out things I should have done after the fact.

I have an Asus P8Z77-V Pro motherboard, and the manual gave some notes on RAID, but it did not make it clear that I have to enable RAID BEFORE the OS install. A few questions arise in this new setup, and I'd rather not have to install the OS a million times.

Okay, so I wiped clean my SSD boot drive, and I have 2 WD drives I'm planning on RAID 0'ing.

I'm planning on have a dual-boot Windows 7 with Ubuntu Linux. I have an SSD for the boot drive, and want the RAID as the shared storage.

In what order should I do:
a) create RAID 0 array
b) install Win 7 OS
c) install Linux OS

I know that I have to boot into the BIOS and change (apparently all at once) the controller from AHCI to RAID. That's the step I thought I could do after install. Oh so wrong ...

1) I know (b) comes before (c), but what about (a)?

2) Do I create the RAID array in the BIOS before installing the Win OS?

3) How will that affect the Linux OS?

Thanks!
 
Solution
Tradesman1
Many, many people use RAID on storage drives, especially those that work with large data sets, imaging, video, CAD GIS, it's a rather accepted practice and has been for years, no doubt there's many out there that don't know or realize this. To your question, yes set the RAID up in the BIOS and have your drivers ready on a flash drive, when you start to install Win it will ask if you need to install drivers for your drives, click yes and direct it to the flash drive...Also want to make sure you have a backup plan ready to go for your RAID and SSD
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4745454b

4745454b

Titan
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Apr 29, 2006
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Big difference between RAID1 and AID0. Speed on storage? For decades business's used tapes for their storage. Want to guess how slow that is? Either we mean different things when we say storage or you don't understand whats going on. I have two normal hdds in my system for storage. One of which is a 4TB 5900RPM drive. It works fine by itself holding my music and other data files. I don't need speed as music plays really slow. By trying to use RAID for storage all you are doing is adding another layer of complexity that can possibly lead to file problems. (The RAID driver.) Trust me, you don't want/need AID0 for storage. Unless there is something else going on.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
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Many, many people use RAID on storage drives, especially those that work with large data sets, imaging, video, CAD GIS, it's a rather accepted practice and has been for years, no doubt there's many out there that don't know or realize this. To your question, yes set the RAID up in the BIOS and have your drivers ready on a flash drive, when you start to install Win it will ask if you need to install drivers for your drives, click yes and direct it to the flash drive...Also want to make sure you have a backup plan ready to go for your RAID and SSD
 
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Solution
C

cinemaster

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Sep 29, 2013
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10,510
Are you saying that it is impossible for someone to need fast storage? Tell me how you have come to this conclusion, please.

There are MANY reasons to need fast storage, including on home systems (which I ddin't even say this is). Video, anything with large files, databases (yes, even RAID0 for a db) and BIG DATA ... or is that not impossible?

 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

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Jun 5, 2013
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As I said earlier, MANY folks do it all the time, it's not unusual at all, for those running basic home systems doing email, WP, surfing, no it's not needed (but still nice to have), but many want it and have a need for it, there's many out there that just don't know systems, the capabilities or what all goes in to higher end rigs....many of my clients do it....if you have any particular questions feel free to PM me
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
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So you are saying there's only one choice - the one you have proclaimed? Seems like you are clearly saying it's the wrong choice by your statement.....Sorry but it's up to the client and/or user what they want and what their needs are - blanket statements rarely fit, in the systems world
 
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4745454b

4745454b

Titan
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Apr 29, 2006
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Not quite. When a client has an (bad?) idea sometimes you need to make some strong statements so that the client realizes he needs to take another look. You are talking like I have some vested interest in this. I didn't like AID0 before, and now that we have SSDs I like it even less. If you need drive performance there are SSDs. Obviously companies that need massive amounts of fast storage RAID 5 or 10 is a great idea. But we normally get home users here and a single hdd can keep up with streaming data.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
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While SSDs continually improve, writes are still the bane of them, I get a call every couple months or more where people are ONLY using a SSD and it has gone bad, so I myself always suggest the SSD for OS and apps and data to a platter drive, along with page file, temp, cache, et al. I also know I have plenty of clients who have home systems that work at home and often with large data files, as mentioned before images, video, CAD, GIS, i.e multiple Gigabytes of data in use at a time. As far as a vested interest, don't know how you could, so don't know how you can just flat say

"Yes, many people do it. Doesn't mean it's the right choice. For home uses current drives not in RAID/AID would be fast enough. For storage. "

that they are making a wrong choice, when you have no idea if it is or isn't
 
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4745454b

4745454b

Titan
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Apr 29, 2006
29,241
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He's already admitted that he did things wrong the first time. Just trying to point him in the right direction. You feel I'm wrong because he's working with large data sets, what makes you right?

Seems I've stepped on your toes here. Because I'm so wrong I'll back out nicely and let you help him setup his dream computer. Other viewpoints be damned.
 
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Tradesman1

Tradesman1

Legenda in Aeternum
Jun 5, 2013
67,883
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He simply said he mixed/messed things up setting up a RAID, I know of very few people that have done that perfectly right every single time - so you blame him for it - it's what he wanted to do, he messed it up, admitted it and asked for help....what's wrong with that?

You didn't even read his entire post, just jumped in and TOLD him he doesn't need it, when you have absolutely no idea of his need or wants.

"I stopped reading at this point. Why are you AID0 storage? Use your SSD for speed/OS, leave whatever drives you have PLAIN for storage. You don't AID0 storage drives."

The purpose of forums is to help those who come to the forums for help, not to dictate to users what they should do, especially if it's simply an opinion.

It's not whether either you or I are right, because in your mind you are, you're rather definitive about it, I all along have simply said that I see it all the time, and there's nothing wrong with it, tons of people do it....Have no idea why you are so dead set against it. You mention above you didn't like RAID before, again that's a you thing, is it to mean that the thousands and more that use it should drop it because you don't like it?

I know I refuse to build with MSI mobos due to their poor QC, but I don't tell people they CAN't or Shouldn't use them, I just offer alternative mobos and state why
 
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