Just set up my first RAID 1 array : Questions

["noughtomate" <balraj_jassal@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi,

This is the first time I've set up a RAID 1 mirror based on 2 SATA
connectors on my Mini-ITX motherboard. I would like to do some
testing against it.

All the info I can find on the web is about the RAID standards, but
I want to know how a re-build is performed on failure. One of the
disks is named a 'Master' and the other the 'Mirror'. If I were to
pull one out during mid-write, would any lost changes be auto-
propogated to the other when it's re-plugged in ?

Is a re-build only performed by a Master ?
If the Master goes down, is the Mirror allowed to be written to ?
How does the BIOS know which has the latest data if both have had
independent writes from each other ? Do they merge into one ?

Also, would anyone know of any testing tools I could use to cover
off all scenarios (Windows based)

I just need some peice of mind, before I actually place my data on
the disks.


Oh : one other question. Despite my Mobo's RAID compabilities, I'm
only restricted to 2 SATA connectors. I would like to expand this.

Could anyone recommend a PCI Express card which supports JBOD, RAID
0 and RAID 1, with 2 internal SATA connectors and ideally an eSATA
connector for future expansion ? (The less depth the better)

There seem to be many out there, but I'd prefer to hear about ones
you use and would recommended.

Thanks.


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