====Linux Raid ====

This setup installs Debian Buster on twin drives (which do not need to be identical) in RAID 1 mirror mode.

Two partitions are created, one for swap and the other for data using the "news" inode allocation scheme.

===Blank disc drives (optional)===

Blanking the drives is optional but useful for reinstall.

Boot from USB media, debian xfce live CD

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current-live/amd64/iso-hybrid/debian-live-10.2.0-amd64-xfce.iso

sudo -s

==Blank full disc==
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=4M

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=4M

==Blank boot sector==
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=4M count=1

dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sdb bs=4M count=1

===Installation===

Boot from USB media, debian net install

https://cdimage.debian.org/debian-cd/current/amd64/iso-cd/debian-10.2.0-amd64-netinst.iso

==Install==

We setup the two discs as independent clones of each other then add both as RAID 1
as two partitions, one for data and the other as swap.

  * english 
    * united kingdom
    * british english
    * load missing firmware? NO
    * primary NIC
    * hostname/domain
    * root/user
    * guided partitioning
      * guided use entire disc
      * SDA
      * all files in one partition
        * edit /
        * options: noatime, nodiratime
        * usage: news
        * done
      * SDB
      * automatic, all files in one partition
        * edit /
        * options: noatime, nodiratime
        * usage: news
        * done
    * configure software RAID
      * write changes
      * create MD device
      * RAID 1
      * 2 device
      * 0 spares
      * /dev/sdaX /dev/sdbX
      * create MD device
      * RAID 1
      * 2 devices
      * 0 spares
      * /dev/sdaX /dev/sdX
      * RAID 1 DEVICE 0
        * mount /
        * use as ext4
        * options: noatime, nodiratime
        * usage: news
        * done
      * RAID 1 DEVICE 1
        * use as swap
        * done
      * finish partitioning
    * mirror
      * uk
    * no package survey
    * choose software
      * SSH server
      * standard utils
    * install grub
      * yes
        * /dev/sda1

===Post install===

If the machine does not boot after install, change the drive order in the BIOS
and reboot.

==Environment==

Login as root

<code>
/bin/su - root
export PATH=/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/sbin
</code>

==Grub==

Install grub onto second drive.

<code>
grub-install /dev/sdb
</code>

==Other==

Install useful software.

<code>
apt-get install apt-file smartmontools sudo vim tcsh bc build-essential git mercurial
apt-file update
update-alternatives --set editor /usr/bin/vim.basic
</code>