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+mdadm(8) mdadm(8)
+
+
+
+NNAAMMEE
+ mdadm - manage MD devices _a_k_a Linux Software Raid.
+
+
+SSYYNNOOPPSSIISS
+ mmddaaddmm _[_m_o_d_e_] _<_r_a_i_d_d_e_v_i_c_e_> _[_o_p_t_i_o_n_s_] _<_s_u_b_d_e_v_i_c_e_s_>
+
+
+DDEESSCCRRIIPPTTIIOONN
+ RAID devices are virtual devices created from two or more
+ real block devices. This allows multiple devices (typi-
+ cally disk drives or partitions there-of) to be combined
+ into a single device to hold (for example) a single
+ filesystem. Some RAID levels included redundancy and so
+ can survive some degree of device failure.
+
+ Linux Software RAID devices are implemented through the md
+ (Multiple Devices) device driver.
+
+ Currently, Linux supports LLIINNEEAARR md devices, RRAAIIDD00 (strip-
+ ing), RRAAIIDD11 (mirroring), RRAAIIDD44 and RRAAIIDD55..
+
+ Recent kernels (2002) also support a mode known as MMUULLTTII--
+ PPAATTHH. mmddaaddmm does not support MULTIPATH as yet.
+
+ mmddaaddmm is a program that can be used to create, manage, and
+ monitor MD devices. As such it provides a similar set of
+ functionality to the rraaiiddttoooollss packages. The key differ-
+ ences between mmddaaddmm and rraaiiddttoooollss are:
+
+ +o mmddaaddmm is a single program and not a collection of pro-
+ grams.
+
+ +o mmddaaddmm can perform (almost) all of its functions with-
+ out having a configuration file. Also mdadm helps
+ with management of the configuration file.
+
+ +o mmddaaddmm can provide information about your arrays
+ (through Detail and Examine) that rraaiiddttoooollss cannot.
+
+ +o rraaiiddttoooollss can manage MULTIPATH devices which mmddaaddmm
+ cannot yet manage.
+
+
+MMOODDEESS
+ mdadm has 7 major modes of operation:
+
+ AAsssseemmbbllee
+ Assemble the parts of a previously created array
+ into an active array. Components can be explicitly
+ given or can be searched for. mmddaaddmm checks that
+ the components do form a bona fide array, and can,
+ on request, fiddle superblock information so as to
+ assemble a faulty array.
+
+
+ BBuuiilldd Build a legacy array without per-device
+ superblocks.
+
+
+ CCrreeaattee Create a new array with per-device superblocks.
+
+
+ DDeettaaiill Display the details of a given md device. Details
+ include the RAID level, the number of devices,
+ which ones are faulty (if any), and the array UUID.
+
+
+ EExxaammiinnee
+ Examine a device to see if it is part of an md
+ array, and print out the details of that array.
+ This mode can also be used to examine a large num-
+ ber of devices and to print out a summary of the
+ arrays found in a format suitable for the
+ mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff configuration file.
+
+
+ FFoollllooww oorr MMoonniittoorr
+ Monitor one or more md devices and act on any state
+ changes.
+
+
+ MMaannaaggee This is for odd bits an pieces like hotadd,
+ hotremove, setfaulty, stop, readonly, readwrite.
+
+
+OOPPTTIIOONNSS
+ Available options are:
+
+
+ --AA, ----aasssseemmbbllee
+ Assemble an existing array.
+
+
+ --BB, ----bbuuiilldd
+ Build a legacy array without superblocks.
+
+
+ --CC, ----ccrreeaattee
+ Create a new array.
+
+
+ --DD, ----ddeettaaiill
+ Print detail of one or more md devices.
+
+
+ --EE, ----eexxaammiinnee
+ Print content of md superblock on device(s).
+
+
+ --FF, ----ffoollllooww, ----mmoonniittoorr
+ Select MMoonniittoorr mode.
+
+
+ --hh, ----hheellpp
+ Display help message or, after above option, mode
+ specific help message.
+
+
+ --VV, ----vveerrssiioonn
+ Print version information for mdadm.
+
+
+ --vv, ----vveerrbboossee
+ Be more verbose about what is happening.
+
+
+ --bb, ----bbrriieeff
+ Be less verbose. This is used with ----ddeettaaiill and
+ ----eexxaammiinnee.
+
+
+FFoorr ccrreeaattee oorr bbuuiilldd::
+ --cc, ----cchhuunnkk==
+ Specify chunk size of kibibytes. The default is
+ 64.
+
+
+ ----rroouunnddiinngg==
+ Specify rounding factor for linear array (==chunk
+ size)
+
+
+ --ll, ----lleevveell==
+ Set raid level. Options are: linear, raid0, 0,
+ stripe, raid1, 1, mirror, raid5, 4, raid5, 5.
+ Obviously some of these are synonymous. Only the
+ first 4 are valid when Building.
+
+
+ --pp, ----ppaarriittyy==
+ Set raid5 parity algorithm. Options are:
+ {left,right}-{,a}symmetric, la, ra, ls, rs. The
+ default is left-symmetric.
+
+
+ ----llaayyoouutt==
+ same as --parity
+
+
+ --nn, ----rraaiidd--ddiisskkss==
+ number of active devices in array.
+
+
+ --xx, ----ssppaarree--ddiisskkss==
+ number of spare (eXtra) disks in initial array.
+ Spares can be added and removed later.
+
+
+ --zz, ----ssiizzee==
+ Amount (in Kibibytes) of space to use from each
+ drive in RAID1/4/5. This must be a multiple of the
+ chunk size, and must leave about 128Kb of space at
+ the end of the drive for the RAID superblock. If
+ this is not specified (as it normally is not) the
+ smallest drive (or partition) sets the size, though
+ if there is a variance among the drives of greater
+ than 1%, a warning is issued.
+
+
+FFoorr aasssseemmbbllee::
+ --uu, ----uuuuiidd==
+ uuid of array to assemble. Devices which don't have
+ this uuid are excluded
+
+
+ --mm, ----ssuuppeerr--mmiinnoorr==
+ Minor number of device that array was created for.
+ Devices which don't have this minor number are
+ excluded. If you create an array as /dev/md1, then
+ all superblock will contain the minor number 1,
+ even if the array is later assembled as /dev/md2.
+
+
+ --cc, ----ccoonnffiigg==
+ config file. Default is //eettcc//mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff.
+
+
+ --ss, ----ssccaann
+ scan config file for missing information
+
+
+ --ff, ----ffoorrccee
+ Assemble the array even if some superblocks appear
+ out-of-date
+
+
+ --RR, ----rruunn
+ Attempt to start the array even if fewer drives
+ were given than are needed for a full array. Nor-
+ mally if not all drives are found and ----ssccaann is not
+ used, then the array will be assembled but not
+ started. With ----rruunn an attempt will be made to
+ start it anyway.
+
+
+GGeenneerraall mmaannaaggeemmeenntt
+ --aa, ----aadddd
+ hotadd listed devices.
+
+
+ --rr, ----rreemmoovvee
+ remove listed devices. The must not be active.
+ i.e. they should be failed or spare devices.
+
+
+ --ff, ----ffaaiill
+ mark listed devices as faulty.
+
+
+ ----sseett--ffaauullttyy
+ same as --fail.
+
+
+ --RR, ----rruunn
+ start a partially built array.
+
+
+ --SS, ----ssttoopp
+ deactivate array, releasing all resources.
+
+
+ --oo, ----rreeaaddoonnllyy
+ mark array as readonly.
+
+
+ --ww, ----rreeaaddwwrriittee
+ mark array as readwrite.
+
+
+
+AASSSSEEMMBBLLYY MMOODDEE
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----aasssseemmbbllee _d_e_v_i_c_e _o_p_t_i_o_n_s_._._.
+
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----aasssseemmbbllee ----ssccaann _o_p_t_i_o_n_s_._._.
+
+
+ This usage assembles one or more raid arrays from pre-
+ existing components. For each array, mdadm needs to know
+ the md device, the identity of the array, and a number of
+ sub devices. These can be found in a number of ways.
+
+ The md device is either given before ----ssccaann or is found
+ from the config file. In the latter case, multiple md
+ devices can be started with a single mdadm command.
+
+ The identity can be given with the ----uuuuiidd option, with the
+ ----ssuuppeerr--mmiinnoorr option, can be found in in the config file,
+ or will be taken from the super block on the first subde-
+ vice listed on the command line.
+
+ Devices can be given on the ----aasssseemmbbllee command line or
+ from the config file. Only devices which have an md
+ superblock which contains the right identity will be con-
+ sidered for any device.
+
+ The config file is only used if explicitly named with
+ ----ccoonnffiigg or requested with ----ssccaann.. In the later case,
+ //eettcc//mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff is used.
+
+ If ----ssccaann is not given, then the config file will only be
+ used to find the identity of md arrays.
+
+ Normally the array will be started after it is assembled.
+ However is ----ssccaann is not given and insufficient drives
+ were lists to start a complete (non-degraded) array, then
+ the array is not started (to guard against usage errors).
+ To insist that the array be started in this case (as may
+ work for RAID1 or RAID5), give the ----rruunn flag.
+
+
+
+BBUUIILLDD MMOODDEE
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----bbuuiilldd _d_e_v_i_c_e ----cchhuunnkk==_X ----lleevveell==_Y ----rraaiidd--
+ ddiisskkss==_Z _d_e_v_i_c_e_s
+
+
+ This usage is similar to ----ccrreeaattee. The difference is that
+ it creates a legacy array without a superblock. With these
+ arrays there is no difference between initially creating
+ the array and subsequently assembling the array, except
+ that hopefully there is useful data there in the second
+ case.
+
+ The level may only be 0, raid0, or linear. All devices
+ must be listed and the array will be started once com-
+ plete.
+
+
+CCRREEAATTEE MMOODDEE
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----ccrreeaattee _d_e_v_i_c_e ----cchhuunnkk==_X ----lleevveell==_Y
+ ----rraaiidd--ddiisskkss==_Z _d_e_v_i_c_e_s
+
+
+ This usage will initialise a new md array, associate some
+ devices with it, and activate the array.
+
+ As devices are added, they are checked to see if they con-
+ tain raid superblocks or filesystems. They are also check
+ to see if the variance in device size exceeds 1%.
+
+ If any discrepancy is found, the array will not automati-
+ cally be run, though the presence of a ----rruunn can override
+ this caution.
+
+
+ The General Management options that are valid with --cre-
+ ate are:
+
+ ----rruunn insist of running the array even if some devices
+ look like they might be in use.
+
+
+ ----rreeaaddoonnllyy
+ start the array readonly - not supported yet.
+
+
+DDEETTAAIILL MMOODDEE
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----ddeettaaiill [----bbrriieeff] _d_e_v_i_c_e _._._.
+
+
+ This usage sill print out the details of the given array
+ including a list of component devices. To determine names
+ for the devices, mmddaaddmm searches //ddeevv for device files with
+ the right major and minor numbers.
+
+ With ----bbrriieeff mmddaaddmm prints a single line that identifies
+ the level, number of disks, and UUID of the array. This
+ line is suitable for inclusion in //eettcc//mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff.
+
+
+EEXXAAMMIINNEE MMOODDEE
+ Usage: mmddaaddmm ----eexxaammiinnee [----ssccaann] [----bbrriieeff] _d_e_v_i_c_e _._._.
+
+ This usage will examine some block devices to see if that
+ have a valid RAID superblock on them. The information in
+ each valid raid superblock will be printed.
+
+ If ----ssccaann is used, the no devices should be listed, and
+ the complete set of devices identified in the configura-
+ tion file are checked. ----ssccaann implies ----bbrriieeff but this
+ implication can be countered by specifying ----vveerrbboossee.
+
+ With ----bbrriieeff mmddaaddmm will output an config file entry of
+ each distinct array that was found. This entry will list
+ the UUID, the raid level, and a list of the individual
+ devices on which a superblock for that array was found.
+ This output will by syntactically suitable for inclusion
+ in the configuration file, but should NNOOTT be used blindly.
+ Often the array description that you want in the configu-
+ ration file is much less specific than that given by mmddaaddmm
+ --BBss. For example, you normally do not want to list the
+ devices, particularly if they are SCSI devices.
+
+
+
+FFIILLEESS
+ //pprroocc//mmddssttaatt
+ If you're using the //pprroocc filesystem, //pprroocc//mmddssttaatt gives
+ you informations about md devices status. This file is
+ not currently used by mmddaaddmm.
+
+
+ //eettcc//mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff
+ The config file lists which devices may be scanned to see
+ if they contain MD super block, and gives identifying
+ information (e.g. UUID) about known MD arrays. See
+ mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff(5) for more details.
+
+
+
+TTOODDOO
+ Finish and document Follow mode.
+
+
+SSEEEE AALLSSOO
+ For information on the various levels of RAID, check out:
+
+
+ http://ostenfeld.dk/~jakob/Software-RAID.HOWTO/
+
+ for new releases of the RAID driver check out:
+
+
+ ftp://ftp.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/peo-
+ ple/mingo/raid-patches
+
+ or
+
+ http://www.cse.unsw.edu.au/~neilb/patches/linux-
+ stable/
+
+ mmddaaddmm..ccoonnff(5), mmdd(4).
+
+ _r_a_i_d_t_a_b(5), _r_a_i_d_0_r_u_n(8), _r_a_i_d_s_t_o_p(8), _m_k_r_a_i_d(8)
+
+
+
+ mdadm(8)