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Is it possible (advisable) to create a RAID 1 array using the Raid ATA connector(s) and simply migrating my data to the Raid array and leaving OS and programs on current drive? Or would I be much better off buying another drive and setting up a true 0+1 array.
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Ditto to what Blackduck30 said. Best possible configuration for what you want to do --data storage of photos etc.-- is OS on the main chipset (eg. PRI_IDE) and a RAID1 array on the Promise ports. This will give you very clean data flow between the two. Note we're talking about storage here, not capture. RAID0+1 is overkill for this application, too little benefit, and too much maintenance overhead for what you want to do.
Go into the BIOS Advanced- Onboard Devices Configuration screen and enable the Onboard Promise Controller and set its Operating Mode= RAID. Then install the
Promise FastTrak 378 RAID Driver. Attach your two SATA drives to the PRI_SATA and SEC_SATA connectors on the mobo. Boot and hit CTRL+F and do the Auto Setup (=1) to create an array optimized for Security (i.e. RAID1).
Once you've partitioned and formatted your new array, it will appear in MyComputer as a single drive.
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If I do go with the 2nd option will it be possible to simply change the socket from the primary IDE drive to the PRI Raid socket (adding a slave?) and not have to worry about data loss, configuration problems, etc?
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No. You cannot create a RAID0+1 array without data loss during the process, AFAIK, it's not that friendly: creating a RAID0 with the two SATA's is the first phase, and that wipes out your data.
Fyi if done carefully the Promise
can convert an existing drive to a RAID1, but running the OS on the Promise controller is not recommended due to PCI overhead, and IDE is not the best choice for Promise RAID either. We're not recommending moving your OS drive, so with only the 2 fresh Samsungs to worry about, there is no data to lose.
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I had envisioned creating a 0+1 array, foolishly thinking that 2 drives could be striped and that one could be the "mirror". I have since learned that to do a 0+1 you need 4 drives.
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4 drives is correct, and you weren't foolish. RAID0+1 (aka. RAID01 or RAID10) is not well documented, and without the help of forums and other outside resources, there can be a lot of natural misconceptions about it.
Hope this helps,
-clintfan