RAID 0:
Configuring a RAID 0 (striped) array using mdadm:
● Prerequisites:
○ At least 2 unused disks or partitions, e.g. /dev/sdb and /dev/sdc.
○ Back up any important data—this process will erase the selected
devices.
Step 1: Add New disks and verify the disks
Command: lsblk
Step 2: Create the RAID 0 Array using Mdadm
Command:
mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=0 --raid-devices=2 /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
● --level=0: stripe across disks for speed
● --raid-devices=2: number of disks
● /dev/md0: name of new virtual RAID device
Step 3: Verify the RAID Is Created
Commands:
mdadm --detail /dev/md0
cat /proc/mdstat
● mdadm --detail shows configuration, component status, and health.
● cat /proc/mdstat shows live sync/build progress
Step 4: Assign File System & Mount
Command:
mkfs.xfs /dev/md0
Commands:
mkdir /md0
mount /dev/md0 /md0
df -h /md0
Step 5: Persist the mount in /etc/fstab
Commands:
vi /etc/fstab
cat /etc/fstab | grep -i /md0
mount | grep /md0
RAID 1:
Configuring a RAID 1 (mirrored) array using mdadm:
● Prerequisites:
○ At least 2 unused disks or partitions of identical size (e.g., /dev/sdd,
/dev/sde).
○ Back up important data—this process erases the selected devices.
Step 1: Add New disks and verify the disks
Command: lsblk
Step 2: Create the RAID 1 Array using Mdadm
Command:
mdadm --create /dev/md1 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 /dev/sdd /dev/sde
NOTE:
By default, mdadm uses metadata version 1.2, which writes RAID information
(called a superblock) at the beginning of the array—before any user data.
If you plan to put /boot (or anything boot-critical) on this RAID, use metadata
version 0.90, which places metadata at the end of the array—keeping the start
clean for your bootloader.
Command:
mdadm --create /dev/md1 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 --metadata=0.90 /dev/sdd
/dev/sde
● --level=1 = sets mirroring (RAID 1).
● --raid-devices=2 = uses 2 disks.
● /dev/md1 = name of the RAID device.
Step 3: Verify the RAID Is Created
Commands:
mdadm --detail /dev/md1
cat /proc/mdstat
Step 4: Assign File System & Mount
Command:
mkfs.xfs /dev/md1
Commands:
mkdir /md1
mount /dev/md1 /md1
df -h /md1
Step 5: Persist the mount in /etc/fstab
Commands:
vi /etc/fstab
cat /etc/fstab | grep -i /md1
mount | grep /md1
RAID 5:
Configuring a RAID 5 (striped with parity) array using mdadm:
● Prerequisites
○ Minimum 3 same-size unused disks/partitions, e.g. /dev/sdb,
/dev/sdc, /dev/sdd.
Step 1: Add New disks and verify the disks
Command: lsblk | grep -E 'sdb|sdc|sdd'
Step 2: Create the RAID 5 Array using Mdadm
Command:
mdadm --create /dev/md5 --level=5 --raid-devices=3 /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
/dev/sdd
● --level=5 : RAID 5 (striping + parity)
● --raid-devices=3 : using 3 disks
(mdadm spins up the array and starts parity sync)
Step 3: Verify the RAID Is Created
Commands:
mdadm --detail /dev/md5
cat /proc/mdstat
Step 4: Assign File System & Mount
Command:
mkfs.xfs /dev/md5
Commands:
mkdir /md5
mount /dev/md5 /md5
df -h /md5
Step 5: Persist the mount in /etc/fstab
Commands:
vi /etc/fstab
cat /etc/fstab | grep -i /md5
mount | grep /md5
RAID 10:
Configuring a RAID 10 (Striped Mirrors) array using mdadm:
● Prerequisites
○ Minimum 4 same-size unused disks/partitions, e.g. /dev/sdb,
/dev/sdc, /dev/sdd, /dev/sde
Step 1: Add New disks and verify the disks
Command: lsblk | grep -E 'sdb|sdc|sdd|sde'
Step 2: Create the RAID 10 Array using Mdadm
Command:
mdadm --create /dev/md10 --level=10 --raid-devices=4 /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
/dev/sdd /dev/sde
● --level=10: sets up RAID 10 (striped mirrors).
● --raid-devices=4: specifies four disks.
RAID 10 combines mirroring and striping for both performance and
redundancy
Step 3: Verify the RAID Is Created
Commands:
mdadm --detail /dev/md10
cat /proc/mdstat
Step 4: Assign File System & Mount
Command:
mkfs.xfs /dev/md10
Commands:
mkdir /md10
mount /dev/md10 /md10
df -h /md10
Step 5: Persist the mount in /etc/fstab
Commands:
vi /etc/fstab
cat /etc/fstab | grep -i /md10
mount | grep /md10
Step 6: Save Confiduration
Command:
mdadm --detail --scan --verbose >> /etc/mdadm.conf
cat /etc/mdadm.conf
Fail / Remove / Add Disk:
mdadm /dev/md10 --fail /dev/sdb
mdadm /dev/md10 --remove /dev/sdb
mdadm /dev/md10 --add /dev/sdb
