Linux RAID 5 with non identical disks

linuxraidraid5software-raid

I want to use a software raid on a Linux server I am creating.
I have 2 identical Maxtor 250 GB hard drives and one Western Digital 250GB hard drive. I know I know I can easily set up raid 1 with the 2 Maxtor drives, But is there a way I could use the third Western Digital hard drive to make a Raid 5 array?

If so are the procedures for doing this any different than using 3 identical drives?

I am planing on using Ubuntu server for this (Same drives for data and OS) are there any nice guides for doing this. (I have never setup RAID before)

Thanks.

EDIT: I have no idea how to set up the raid during the Ubuntu server install, so I also need instructions on how to do this. (A link to a guide will do just fine)

Best Answer

There shouldn't really be any isues mixing disk vendors, Linux software raid is discussed pretty thoroughly here, you shouldn't have to do anything differently just because the drives are from different vendors.

"There are no other special requirements to the devices from which you build your RAID devices - this gives you a lot of freedom in designing your RAID solution. For example, you can build a RAID from a mix of IDE and SCSI devices, and you can even build a RAID from other RAID devices"

(From the Linux raid wiki)

As far as setting up the raid during the installer goes, you have to use the "alternate" (textmode) installer, full instructions for this are here on the Ubuntu wiki.

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