root on gmirror and disk failure...

[Matthew Seaman]

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Modulok wrote:

> The provider, /dev/mirror/gm0, is not being created. This is
> significant for obvious reasons: no mirror means no provider which
> means no root. The module /boot/kernel/geom_mirror.ko is loaded, as I
> have manually loaded it via the loader(8) prompt and attempted the
> simulated failure again with identical results. It's the provider that
> isn't being created, for whatever reason.
> 
> Suggestions? (Other than purchasing a hardware RAID card).

I've seen these symptoms before.  It appears to be a "feature" of
certain Motherboards.  If you're lucky there will be some BIOS
options you can toggle to make it behave better -- usually to do
will telling the motherboard *not* to do any sort of RAID stuff itself.

Otherwise, look for BIOS updates, or switch to a different
Motherboard.  Systems supplied with hot swap drives (meaning SATA
rather than IDE) tend to work better.  Or install a hardware RAID
controller.

I've also a feeling that there's a behavioural difference between
'only one drive present' and 'one working drive and a blank disk'
but haven't really tested that theory out, as we solved the original
problem by other means.

	Cheers,

	Matthew

- --
Dr Matthew J Seaman MA, D.Phil.                   7 Priory Courtyard
                                                  Flat 3
PGP: http://www.infracaninophile.co.uk/pgpkey     Ramsgate
                                                  Kent, CT11 9PW
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