Guidance on RAID 0 with slightly different motherboard replacement

[Sam Headphaze]

Hello there!

I'm looking for some guidance/expertise on the matter of re-setting a RAID 0 system when replacing the motherboard with a slightly different model, so that the data is intact and the OS is bootable. I am moderately tech-savvy.

A couple of years ago my Asus P5Q Pro Turbo motherboard fried as a result of a power surge. I had two 500GB HDDs set up as a RAID 0 system. I had 95% of the data backed up, but there is still a small amount of data within that 5% i would really like to salvage as it's still very important and is the only copy that exists.

I understand that it should (in theory) work as normal if I replace the motherboard with the exact same version/model. However, I have been trying to get hold of the exact model which has proven very difficult because it's a long discontinued piece of hardware, so i'm thinking about broadening my opportunity by considering similar models of MB. Therefore, my specific question is: if I replace the MB with either the P5Q / P5Q Pro / P5Q Deluxe instead or other 775 models, will I be able to resume with the RAID 0 system as normal?

This is where my knowledge comes to a halt on the matter. I have compared the different models on the ASUS website but I can't figure out if the RAID controllers differ or not, or if any other part of the hardware specification would stop this from working.

Obviously, I would like to determine wether or not this has a chance of working before I attempt to invest in another MB model in the same range of socket 775.

I assumed that the nature of my query means I need not state any other spec information, but if I have missed anything I will try to provide the info no problem.

Thanks for your time in reading this.

Sam

 

[alexoiu]

Hi, Theoretically, boards with the same chipset (ICH 10R) should work. Connect the drives to the same SATA ports as in the original configuration.
I say theoretically because there are cases where by simply updating the BIOS, the RAID array stopped working.
There are also cases where you can move a RAID array between different controllers (Intel to Marvell, for example as the metadata is pretty much standard), with no issues.
In conclusion... it should work

 

[Sam Headphaze]

Thank you for your speedy reply and advice

I will have to see how it goes. I'm aware that no one can affirm with 100% certainty it will work, but at least now i'm more confident in buying a slightly different model to test it.

Cheers

 

[alexoiu]

Good luck and please post back the result.

 

[Cristi72]

Hello,

Your solution will not work at all: you must create the RAID array, but you cannot do this without the drives, and if you connect the drives, initially the controller sees them as two separate units, so you will destroy the existing array.

You can recover the data from the old HDDs, but not rebuild the array by using the old drives:
http://www.easeus.com/resource/raid-recovery-software.htm

 

[alexoiu]

"and if you connect the drives, initially the controller sees them as two separate units, so you will destroy the existing array."

You simply access the BIOS and set SATA to RAID. No array will be altered.

 

[Sam Headphaze]

You simply access the BIOS and set SATA to RAID. No array will be altered.

That is exactly what i've been led to understand, judging by advice posted around various other forums.

Although, Ive also read that one may have to manually set the same stripe size for it to work.

 

[alexoiu]

The array information is saved on the HDDs.
Assuming that the HDDs survived after the motherboard failure, then the RAID should work with no issues on a similar motherboard.

 

[Cristi72]

"and if you connect the drives, initially the controller sees them as two separate units, so you will destroy the existing array."

You simply access the BIOS and set SATA to RAID. No array will be altered.

Yeah, I should be more specific: the array still existing onto the HDDs will be destroyed when attempting to build the new one. For RAID1, you could rebuild the array without troubles.

Although, Ive also read that one may have to manually set the same stripe size for it to work.

That could actually work (assuming you know for certain the former RAID parameters), just be sure you put the HDDs in the same order as they were in the original array.

 

[alexoiu]

Again, avoid rebuilding the RAID volume. Just connect the drives (same configuration), set SATA to RAID and boot from the RAID volume. No attempt for Ctrl+I. Just boot from the RAID volume.

 

[Cristi72]

Again, avoid rebuilding the RAID volume. Just connect the drives (same configuration), set SATA to RAID and boot from the RAID volume. No attempt for Ctrl+I. Just boot from the RAID volume.

In its original post, the OP said: "so that the data is intact and the OS is bootable", that's why I kept referring to array rebuilding. If he doesn't have to rebuild the array for boot purposes, then he's fine and the data can be recoverable without much hassle.

 

[Sam Headphaze]

Thanks again for your replies and suggestions.

I have to apologise, because I wrongly used the term "rebuilding" in my OP which may have contributed to misleading.

I will update this thread with the outcome (when I can get hold of the motherboard that is).

Cheers

 

[Sam Headphaze]

Ok guys. Today I put in the ASUS P5Q PRO and after tweaking a few things got the operating system to boot like normal with the RAID 0 system intact.

So it worked! I'm a happy bunny now i've retrieved that little bit of data.

Cheers

 

[alexoiu]

Thank you for the follow-up. A backup of data on the RAID volume would be helpful in case of an unexpected failure.

 

[Sam Headphaze]

Thank you for the follow-up. A backup of data on the RAID volume would be helpful in case of an unexpected failure.

Of course, that is the last time I ever use RAID 0 however - I will be using SSDs for my internal system from now on and it's just not necessary really to stripe data for performance with them.

Cheers