On 24/03/2009 22:15, Dylan Distasio wrote:

Hi all-

I would like to put together a RAID10 array utilizing 2x1TB drives and
2x500 gig drives I have in my home Linux server.  Is the best way to do
this to create 2 separate RAID1 arrays, one for each set of drives, and
then a RAID0 array made up of the RAID1 ones?   I just wanted to verify
that I am going about this correctly, and also get input on whether
there are any disadvantages to this setup.  I would prefer not to split
these up into two separate RAID10 arrays because I want the combined
space available under one.   Thanks for any comments.

I think you can mix drive sizes under md RAID-10 - much as you're 
proposing to above with your RAID-0 of different-sized RAID-1s - and md 
will just do the Right Thing. I'd go for testing that and play with 
layouts (near, far, offset) to suit your requirements before worrying 
about setting up RAID 1+0.

Actually with your hardware I'd probably set up a 1TB RAID-0 with the 
500G drives then make a RAID-5 from the 3 1TB devices (2 raw drives plus 
one md RAID-0). If you can be bothered try benchmarking that too; as 
well as giving you more storage I think it'll probably match the RAID-10 
or RAID 1+0 for performance.

Cheers,

John.