Create advanced RAID devices

In some cases, you may want to install the operating system on a pre-created array. This usually involves /boot or root file system RAID devices. Such cases may require array options not supported by the Anaconda installer.

About this task

Note

The limited Rescue Mode of the installer does not include man pages. Both the mdadm(8) and md(4) man pages contain useful information for creating custom RAID arrays, and might be needed throughout the workaround.

Procedure

  1. Insert the install disk.
  2. During the initial boot up, select Rescue Mode instead of Install or Upgrade. When the system fully boots into Rescue mode, you can see the command line.
  3. From the command line, run the following commands:
    1. Create RAID partitions on the target hard drives by using the parted command.
    2. Manually create raid arrays by using the mdadm command from those partitions using any and all settings and options available.
  4. Optional: After creating arrays, create file systems on the arrays as well.
  5. Reboot the computer and select Install or Upgrade to install. As the Anaconda installer searches the disks in the system, it finds the pre-existing RAID devices.
  6. When asked about how to use the disks in the system, select Custom Layout and click Next. In the device listing, the pre-existing MD RAID devices are listed.
  7. Select a RAID device and click Edit.
  8. Configure its mount point and optionally the type of file system it should use if you did not create one earlier, and then click Done. Anaconda installs to this pre-existing RAID device, preserving the custom options you selected when you created it in Rescue Mode.