====== Install raid1 and lvm for Kubuntu ======

===== Hardware configuration =====

  * MB : ASUS M2N32 Workstation Professional
  * CPU: Athlon 64 X2 5600+
  * HD : 2xWD 74GB Raptor, 2xSamsung 500GB, 1xSamsung 400GB
  * RAM: 4 GB DDR2-6400
  * Usage: Server


===== Brief problem description =====

I started off installing Kubuntu Feisty 7.04. Within the partitioner, I could not set up lvm. I could not get past the error message "Error informing the kernel about modifications to /dev/md2p1 --Invalid argument", no matter what I did. I even zeroed all partition tables with dd, but whenever I entered LVM config the partitioner recognized md0, md1, md2 and the usage as lvm. I'm not quite sure how this is possible, I even started doubting my new hardware.

After several hours I decided to go back to Kubuntu 6.10, with which I still could not install lvm, but I could properly install the 2 multidisk (raid1) configurations (md0: /, md1: swap, md2: /srv). md2 = /srv was a necessary intermediate step, because lvm did not configure through on Edgy either, so I formatted it with ext3.


===== Remarks for the walkthrough below =====

  * ">" means "and then", next menu item or next step
  * "|" means option, do first or second ( first | second)
  * all commands below as super user. enter sudo -s


===== Desired configuration of the disks =====

^ hdd ^ partition ^ raid1 ^  lvm           ^ mount point ^
| sda |  sda1     |  md0  |  -             | /            |
| sdb |  sdb1     |  md0  |                |              |
| sda |  sda2     |  md1  |  -             | swap         |
| sdb |  sdb2     |  md1  |                |              |
| sdc |  sdc1     |  md2  | vg1, lv1, lv2  | /home, /srv  |
| sdd |  sdd1     |  md2  |                |              |
| sde |  sde1     |  -    | vg2, lv3       | /backup      |


===== Install Base =====

  - Install Kubuntu Edgy (6.10) Alternate Install: F6-F6-Expert Mode
  - Install Raid1 with MD package activated
  - DO NOT install LVM during initial setup
  - Boot into KDE from HD
  * __Note__: if MD oder LVM already activated before and need clean: 2nd shell (Alt-F2) > mdadm - -manage - -stop md0 > mdadm - -manage - -remove md0 before writing to disk in partitioner


===== Install LVM =====

  - lvm > pvcreate /dev/sde1 > pvcreate /dev/md2
  - lvm > vgcreate vg_backup /dev/sde1 > vgcreate vg_data /dev/md2
  - lvm > vgdisplay vg_backup to check ### of free extents (following steps same for vg_data, but 2 logical volumes)
  - lvm > lvcreate -l### vg_backup (do not use -LxxGB, use size with -l### which is number of extents)
  - lvm > lvrename vg_backup lvol0 lv_backup
  - lvm > vgcfgbackup to backup volume group configurations
  - lvm > exit
  - umount /home > umount /srv
  - mkfs -t ext3 /dev/vg_backup/lv_backup > mkfs -t ext3 /dev/vg_data/lv_home > mkfs -t ext3 /dev/vg_data/lv_srv
  - mkdir /backup
  - mount /dev/vg_backup/lv_backup /backup > mount /dev/vg_data/lv_home /home > mount /dev/vg_data/lv_srv /srv

  * As I use this machine as a server I did not consider to upgrade Edgy to Feisty, but I would expect that this can be done without problems. I'm not sure this is the best way or the fastest, but it worked for me.


**Done! Everything works now!**