Install Ubuntu LTS (Hardy Heron) with RAID and LVM

Use the text installer in Ubuntu Hardy server version to install:

• RAID configuration software RAID1 (writing simultaneously replicated on 2 identical drives, which provides backup in case of rupture of a disc, sacrificing a disc)
• LVM to resize partitions easily and convenient for Xen
• Hardy install on a partition created in the root LVM
• Install virtual machines using Xen with Debian Etch (Stable)
• Hardware

Hardware
The only requirement for this installation is to have 2 identical drives ,in my case 2 Seagate 500 GB SATA2. In reality the RAID software could do with different drives.

Installing RAID

Start the computer with the installation disk Hardy Ubuntu Server in the partitioning screen select Manual,

• SCSI1 (0,0,0) (sda)
• SCSI2 (0,0,0) (sdb)

Creating RAID volumes

• Select SCSI1 (sda)
• Select Create new empty partition table on this device
• Select FREE SPACE
• Create a partition that will be used to boot from 512M
• Type for the new Primary partition =
• Location for the new partition = Beginning
• Partition settings: Use as = physical volume for RAID
• Exit of the partition

Now select the FREE SPACE remained under the newly created partition

• Create a new partition occupying the entire space except for a 2%
• Type for the new Primary partition =
• Partition settings: Use as = physical volume for RAID
• Done setting up the partition

Repeat the same procedure for SCSI2 (sdb).

The additional 2% is used in case of failure to install a new disk that despite having the same size may not have the stress of the cylinders.

Configuring software RAID
From the [!!] Partition disks select: Configure software RAID
Write the changes to the storage devices and configure RAID select: (yes)

This is the Multidisk (MD) and software RAID configuration menu select:

• Create MD device
• Multidisk device type = RAID 1
• Number of active devices for the RAID1 array = 2
• Number of spare devices for the RAID1 array = 0

"Active devices for the RAID1 multidisk device": Select the 2 partitions that end in "1", which would have the 2 partitions BOOT:

• / Dev/sda1 for SCSI disks
• / Dev/sdb1 for SCSI disks
• (Continue)

"Multidisk configuration actions":

• Create MD device
• Multidisk device type = RAID1
• Number of active devices for the RAID1 array = 2
• Number of spare devices for the RAID1 array = 0

"Active devices for the RAID1 multidisk device" select the partitions that end in "2", which would be the future partitions ROOT:

• / Dev/sda2 for SCSI disks
• / Dev/sdb2 for SCSI disks
• (Continue)
• "Multidisk configuration action" = (Finish)

At this point in the "Table of disks" two RAID1 device # 0 and # 1 can see ,the first to 512M and the other the rest.

Install LVM


LVM will be installed on the partition , and allow then to create the root partition, swap, home and so on.

• From "[!!] Partition disks "to" Table of disks "
• Select RAID1 device # 1
• Use = as Physical volume for LVM
• Done setting up the partition
• Configuring LVM
• From "[!!] Partition disks ":
• Select "Configure the Logical Volume Manager"
• Write the changes to disks and configure LVM = (Yes)

Configuration:

1. Create volume groups. The volume group and the entire LVM partition that is then divided into several logical volumes (logical volumes)
   
   • Volume group name = vg00
   • Select
   • / dev/md/1 ()) and (Continue)
2. Create logical volumes
   
   • Volume group vg00 =
   • Logical volume name = swap
   • Logical volume size = how much RAM
3. Create logical volumes
   
   • Logical volume name = root
   • Volume group vg00 =
   • Logical volume size = 15G (should be more than enough, considering the home a part)
4. Create logical volumes
   
   • Logical volume name = home
   • Volume group vg00 =
   • Logical volume size = 5-20GB (we want to leave as much space as possible to the virtual machines)
5. Select Finish ()

At the end of this phase the bulk of the disc and still in the vg00 volume group, and this .. comfortable because 'the partitions can be created automatically during the creation of virtual machines guests.

Return to "Partition disks".

Create partitions
From "[!!] Partition disks "

In "Table of Disks" vg00 LV LVMVG select root: # 1

• Use as = Ext3 journaling file system
• Mount point = /-the root file system
• Done setting up the partition

In "Table of Disks" LVMVG vg00, LV home select: # 1

• Use as = Ext3 journaling file system
• Mountpoint = / home
• Done setting up the partition

In "Table of Disks" LVMVG vg00, LV swap select: # 1

• Use = as swap area
• Done setting up the partition

In "Table of Disks" RAID1 device # 0 select: # 1

• Use as = Ext3 journaling file system
• Mount point = / boot static-file of the boot loader
• Done setting up the partition

Then by "[!!] Partition disks "select" Finish partitioning and write changes to disk " "Write changes to disks?" Yes ()

Now you can 'proceed normally to the system, which will be copied simultaneously on both disks and reboot into the new system in RAID1.