Questions concerning multiple OS and RAID-1

Fred Nussbaum list_subscriptor at yahoo.co.uk
Mon Mar 21 22:15:09 UTC 2005


Hi I hope someone has the answer to the next question.

I'm looking for a way to use a server with three OSes,
WITH ALL OSes USING (software) RAID-1. 
To be specific: Windows 2003 server, SuSe Professional
and Fedora Core 3.

The machine works with an Intel SE7520JR2 board and
two SATA disk of equal size.

The options I've come up with are as follows:

A)

1)

- Install Windows 2003 on the first 'simple' disk with
a system/root partition and a data partition.
- Upgrade this disk from 'simple' to 'dynamic'.
- Mirror both partitions to the second disk.

This will create a dynamic disk database which
contains the 'simple' disk partition table info and
ONE 0x42 partition table entry in the MBR at sector 0.
Reverting to an 'simple' disk involves breaking the
mirror and deleting the partitions on the second disk!
 
2) Create a boot, root and swap partition for SuSe on
the first (now windows? 'dynamic') disk and mirror
those on the second disk and install the software
after this.

3) The same for Fedora Core 3.

or

B)

1) Install Windows 2003 on the first 'simple' disk
with a system/root partition and a data partition.

2) Create a (mirrored) boot, root and swap partition
on the first disk for SuSe, but do not install!

3) Create a (mirrored) boot, root and swap partition
on the first disk for FC, but do not install!

4) Upgrade the (windows) 'simple' disk to 'dynamic'.

or

c)

Make use of the RAID-1 option on the motherboard.

If I do so, will I still be able to install SuSE and
FC linux?

Is any of these options valid? Will one work?
I get the feeling none will, because of the
'thrashing' of the (normal) partition table info by
windows. 
Is Windows the only OS that will be able to read the
dynamic disk databse partition info?
If so, is there an other option that will give me the
result I desire?

Many thanks in advance for any usefull reply!

Fred.

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