Solved Clean Install on Raid 1

[FastTurtle]

I have an LSI 9211-8i in HBA/IT mode and am planning a clean install on a Raid1. Yes I've checked the Tutorials but nothing specifically lists how to create a Raid1 array during Installation


What I think is going to be needed is Diskpart to create the array and link it but I "Don't Know" if that's going to be the solution. Worst case would be to create the Raid after the install using Disk Management

 

[samuria]

What are you using for raid the BIOS or add-on card you set up raid on them and then may need drivers for Windows

 

[iko22]

The LSI 9211-8i has its own Flash ROM BIOS, accessible at POST stage of Boot sequence. You will need to configure RAID configuration here, before booting to instillation drive. You will also need to include RAID drivers for windows 7 into the instillation process.

 

[FastTurtle]

Digging in, I've discovered that I can create a Mirror using Diskpart (add) creates a simply Raid 1 setup.



Everyone: Please Pay attention to the IT/HBA Mode in regards to the LSI Card. It is not a Raid card and was factory flashed that way, which was what I wanted.


Currently, the card is configured to Not Boot as I'm still using the onboard M2 port but am planning a conversion to a Mirrored Boot in a short while - 4th Qtr when I shift everything to a better case. At that time, I'm disabling all Onboard Sata ports and will be using the card for Boot but will have to see what I actually need for Windows to work with the card (Bios/OS or Both) and I'm thinking Both is the correct answer so Windows can access the card as needed. I do have drivers to add if Windows needs them during Installation (seem to be included though) so I may be lucky and already have everything needed

 

[FastTurtle]

You Can't Boot from a Software Mirror

It's taken me a while to determine Why you can not create a Bootable Software Mirror for Windows and it's simple. To use Software Raid, you need to use a Dynamic disk. The problem is, you can not convert the EFI and MSR partitions to Dynamic using Diskpart and any other method will allow Murphy to bite you in the ass.

Heres what it looks like, as you can see, the EFI, System Partition is not on a dynamic disk, thus no mirror for boot but You can mirror the windows partition and nothing says you can't setup the EFI and MSR partitions onto a different disk, which looks to offer a very nice solution.

 

[iko22]

You can follow this How to establish and boot to GPT mirrors on 64-bit Windows, as it tells you how to create dynamic disk mirrors on GPT partitions, and test the result. Yet, having said that, I do not think there is a single way to do that at the OS Installation phase.