How to set up RAID 1

Setting up software RAID 1 on both Windows and Linux systems can empower you with an effective layer of data redundancy, ensuring mirrored backups of your critical information seamlessly. For Windows 10 users, the in-built "Disk Management" utility allows you to create a mirrored volume with ease, providing a straightforward route to safeguard your data. Meanwhile, Linux enthusiasts can leverage the power of "mdadm," a versatile tool that's perfect for configuring RAID arrays via the command line. In this guide, we'll navigate through the step-by-step procedures for both platforms, enabling you to bolster your data defenses and maintain peace of mind. Whether you're working on a personal project or managing crucial work files, let's ensure that technical setbacks won't lead to data loss.

Upgrade Your Data Resiliency with RAID 1

RAID 1 is the most preferred storage technique in cases where the data being saved is from transactional applications, custom operating systems, or email servers. Nevertheless, generally, RAID 1 is used in places where high data redundancy is needed.

RAID 1, you won’t need to worry about hard drive failure; the RAID keeps working until the last hard drive in the array fails, so there’s enough time to recover data from RAID drive and rebuild the array without losing any important files.

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Linux (Ubuntu Example)

1. 1. Prepare Your Drives: As on Windows 10, ensure you have two similar-sized drives, and back up any existing data.
2. 2. Install mdadm: Open Terminal and install mdadm with:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install mdadm

1. 3. Partition Your Drives (Optional): You can use fdisk or gdisk to create partitions if necessary. Ensure partitions have the same size on both disks.
2. 4. Create a RAID 1 Array:

• Use the following command:

sudo mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2

/dev/sdX1 /dev/sdY1

• Replace /dev/sdX1 and /dev/sdY1 with your actual drive or partition identifiers.

1. 5. Verify the Array Creation:

• Check the status with:

cat /proc/mdstat

• This provides information about active RAID devices.

1. 6. Create a Filesystem:

• Format the array with a filesystem, e.g., ext4:

sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/md0

1. 7. Mount the RAID Array:

• Create a mount point and mount the array:

sudo mkdir -p /mnt/raid1

sudo mount /dev/md0 /mnt/raid1

1. 8. Configure mdadm for Boot:

• Save the mdadm configuration:

sudo mdadm --detail --scan | sudo tee -a /etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf

sudo update-initramfs -u

How to Remove the RAID

If for any reason, you wish to stop using RAID storage and make a switch to conventional single-drive setups, that’s very much possible, whether your RAID 1 was set up on Windows 10 or Linux.

On Linux

Run this command to switch back to the conventional storage pattern:

• sudo mdadm --remove /dev/md0

Remember to edit the mdadm.conf file and clear the RAID definition you saved earlier.

Don’t forget to the edit /etc/fstab file too, to disable the auto-mount feature you activated.

On Windows 10:

If you created your RAID 1 using that Windows Storage Spaces utility, you can delete the “Pool” and that means removing the RAID.

• Access Windows Storage Spaces
• Click on the “Delete” button next to the pool you want to remove.
• Confirm the action, and that’s it.

However, before removing your RAID 1, ensure you have done a backup of all files and data previously saved on the RAID. This can be achieved using professional data backup software that works on the Windows 10 OS version you have on your PC.

If after the dismantling of your RAID 1 array you discover that you have missing files and data, you can recover them from your backup, or use DiskInternals RAID Recovery software. DiskInternals RAID Recovery can recover lost data from any RAID array and it supports all known Windows 10 and Linux file systems.

Can I Create a RAID 1 Array With a Drive that Already has Data?

The simple answer is no. But, you can format the drive to remove all data saved on it, and then proceed to add it to your RAID array. One of the steps to creating a RAID level is to format the drive(s), which erases every data on the drive(s). If you insert a drive with data into your RAID array to replace a failing drive, you stand a chance of losing all the data on that drive.

So, to be on the safe side, run a full backup to clone all the files and data you have on the said drive, then format the drive and use it for RAID 1. Anytime you decide to stop using the drive for your RAID, you can disconnect it and restore its previous files from the backup you made earlier. Anything else aside from this procedure will make you lose your files on the said drive.

FAQ