Question Will drives be wiped when I implement BIOS RAID 1?

[BigJ_Jonathan]

I have TWO identical data drives that are mirrorred in Windows (i.e. not in BIOS), and I am planning to install Ubuntu soon, as dual boot.

Since mirroring is currently implemented in WINDOWS, when I run Ubuntu, I am concerned that there will be no mirroring, so the drives will become out of sync when I am using Ubuntu.

Therefore I need to REMOVE windows mirroring, and instead use BIOS RAID 1.

My questions:

1. The drives already contain data - will they be wiped when I implement RAID in BIOS RAID settings?
2. Once I implement RAID in BIOS, will the motherboard implement RAID on my data drives regardless whether I boot into Ubuntu or Windows?

I am using Gigabyte AORUS XTREME x670e motherboard.

 

[USAFRet]

For ANY major change like this, you NEED a full copy of all the data elsewhere.
This is not optional.

Even if it were possible to just transfer a RAID 1 from Windows to Ubuntu with no data loss, a procedure like this NEEDS a full backup. Just in case.
And I'm not sure that is possible.


But the real question is...Why the RAID 1?
What is this system and data used for?
What is your real backup routine?

 

[BigJ_Jonathan]

For ANY major change like this, you NEED a full copy of all the data elsewhere.
This is not optional.

Even if it were possible to just transfer a RAID 1 from Windows to Ubuntu with no data loss, a procedure like this NEEDS a full backup. Just in case.
And I'm not sure that is possible.


But the real question is...Why the RAID 1?
What is this system and data used for?
What is your real backup routine?

Thanks for your reply USAFRet - I will back up my data drive fully before I attempt this.

To answer your question as to why the RAID 1? This is purely and simply in order to safeguard against data drive failure.

I also have Synology NAS, which I am planning to set to back up to the cloud (Amazon Deep Glacier most likely) - once I figure out how to do this...

 

[DSzymborski]

Thanks for your reply USAFRet - I will back up my data drive fully before I attempt this.

To answer your question as to why the RAID 1? This is purely and simply in order to safeguard against data drive failure.

Then your solution is proper backups, not a janky tertiary function of a niche tool that's meant for things like data availability on servers.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for your reply USAFRet - I will back up my data drive fully before I attempt this.

To answer your question as to why the RAID 1? This is purely and simply in order to safeguard against data drive failure.

I also have Synology NAS, which I am planning to set to back up to the cloud (Amazon Deep Glacier most likely) - once I figure out how to do this...

RAID 1 is only needed if you require continued uptime, until such time as you can schedule the downtime to replace the drive and rebuild the array.
Like if you're operating a web store, and downtime = lost sales.

You still need a real, ongoing backup routine.
Not just 'once'.

And if you have that real backup, you don't need the RAID 1.

Somewhat modified since I wrote this, but the basics:

What is your backup situation at home?

What is your backup situation at home? And if you don't do that, why not? Every single day, I read multiple threads here of "How do I get my stuff back?" or "That drive had 5 years of photos of my kids!!" Be it a dead drive, dropped phone, virus, accidental deletion, formatting the wrong...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[BigJ_Jonathan]

RAID 1 is only needed if you require continued uptime, until such time as you can schedule the downtime to replace the drive and rebuild the array.
Like if you're operating a web store, and downtime = lost sales.

You still need a real, ongoing backup routine.
Not just 'once'.

And if you have that real backup, you don't need the RAID 1.

Somewhat modified since I wrote this, but the basics:

What is your backup situation at home?

What is your backup situation at home? And if you don't do that, why not? Every single day, I read multiple threads here of "How do I get my stuff back?" or "That drive had 5 years of photos of my kids!!" Be it a dead drive, dropped phone, virus, accidental deletion, formatting the wrong...

forums.tomshardware.com

Thanks very much USAFRet - great post. I agree with one of the respondents on that thread - I don't know whether that post is a pinned post but if it's not then it should be.