try getting software raid. it may not be best,  but it uses ram. it should run in backround.

Marc Skinner wrote: 
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> if this device does true hardware raid, once that is configured in your
> cards bios, it will only show up as a single /dev/sdb or whatever in
> linux.  typically you have to assign the drives in the bios and then
> create a logical disk using the raid card bios.  if this can't be done,
> then the card doesn't appear to be capable of hardware raid and your
> stuck with mdadm (software raid) - which actually is very good at
> keeping the overhead to a minimum.
> it appears others had the same issue:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=268570&page=2
> 1:might want to update to the latest cards firmware.
> 2:try Centos 5.0 or update kernel/driver
> justin.vogt at bold.k12.mn.us wrote:
>> I am attempting to setup a bacula raid device I have a Promise 4310 4 port
>> raid sata device and in the device bios I have it setup for raid 5.  The
>> device shows up in the hardware browser as a raid device so I am guessing
>> it has the proper drivers.  How do I mount the device so I don't have to
>> use software raid and hammer my cpu during backups.  Any advice would be
>> great.  Here is my fdisk -l
>> 
>> Oh yeah I am running Centos 4.5 and it is installed on the primary scsi drive
>> 
>> Thanks
>> 
>> Disk /dev/sda: 18.3 GB, 18351959040 bytes
>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 2231 cylinders
>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>> 
>>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
>> /dev/sda1   *           1          13      104391   83  Linux
>> /dev/sda2              14        2231    17816085   8e  Linux LVM
>> 
>> Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>> 
>>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
>> /dev/sdb1               1       60801   488384001   83  Linux
>> 
>> Disk /dev/sdc: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>> 
>>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
>> /dev/sdc1               1       60801   488384001   83  Linux
>> 
>> Disk /dev/sdd: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>> 
>>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
>> /dev/sdd1               1       60801   488384001   83  Linux
>> 
>> Disk /dev/sde: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
>> 255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
>> Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
>> 
>>    Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks   Id  System
>> /dev/sde1               1       60801   488384001   83  Linux
>> 
>> Justin Vogt
>> BOLD Schools
>> Technology Director
>> Justin.Vogt at bold.k12.mn.us
>> (320)523-1031 ext.117
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> TCLUG Mailing List - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
>> tclug-list at mn-linux.org
>> http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list
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> _______________________________________________
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> tclug-list at mn-linux.org
> http://mailman.mn-linux.org/mailman/listinfo/tclug-list


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