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Linus Torvalds1da177e2005-04-16 15:20:36 -07001Tools that manage md devices can be found at
2 http://www.<country>.kernel.org/pub/linux/utils/raid/....
3
4
5Boot time assembly of RAID arrays
6---------------------------------
7
8You can boot with your md device with the following kernel command
9lines:
10
11for old raid arrays without persistent superblocks:
12 md=<md device no.>,<raid level>,<chunk size factor>,<fault level>,dev0,dev1,...,devn
13
14for raid arrays with persistent superblocks
15 md=<md device no.>,dev0,dev1,...,devn
16or, to assemble a partitionable array:
17 md=d<md device no.>,dev0,dev1,...,devn
18
19md device no. = the number of the md device ...
20 0 means md0,
21 1 md1,
22 2 md2,
23 3 md3,
24 4 md4
25
26raid level = -1 linear mode
27 0 striped mode
28 other modes are only supported with persistent super blocks
29
30chunk size factor = (raid-0 and raid-1 only)
31 Set the chunk size as 4k << n.
32
33fault level = totally ignored
34
35dev0-devn: e.g. /dev/hda1,/dev/hdc1,/dev/sda1,/dev/sdb1
36
37A possible loadlin line (Harald Hoyer <HarryH@Royal.Net>) looks like this:
38
39e:\loadlin\loadlin e:\zimage root=/dev/md0 md=0,0,4,0,/dev/hdb2,/dev/hdc3 ro
40
41
42Boot time autodetection of RAID arrays
43--------------------------------------
44
45When md is compiled into the kernel (not as module), partitions of
46type 0xfd are scanned and automatically assembled into RAID arrays.
47This autodetection may be suppressed with the kernel parameter
48"raid=noautodetect". As of kernel 2.6.9, only drives with a type 0
49superblock can be autodetected and run at boot time.
50
51The kernel parameter "raid=partitionable" (or "raid=part") means
52that all auto-detected arrays are assembled as partitionable.
53
NeilBrown6ff8d8e2006-01-06 00:20:15 -080054Boot time assembly of degraded/dirty arrays
55-------------------------------------------
56
57If a raid5 or raid6 array is both dirty and degraded, it could have
58undetectable data corruption. This is because the fact that it is
59'dirty' means that the parity cannot be trusted, and the fact that it
60is degraded means that some datablocks are missing and cannot reliably
61be reconstructed (due to no parity).
62
63For this reason, md will normally refuse to start such an array. This
64requires the sysadmin to take action to explicitly start the array
65desipite possible corruption. This is normally done with
66 mdadm --assemble --force ....
67
68This option is not really available if the array has the root
69filesystem on it. In order to support this booting from such an
70array, md supports a module parameter "start_dirty_degraded" which,
71when set to 1, bypassed the checks and will allows dirty degraded
72arrays to be started.
73
74So, to boot with a root filesystem of a dirty degraded raid[56], use
75
76 md-mod.start_dirty_degraded=1
77
Linus Torvalds1da177e2005-04-16 15:20:36 -070078
79Superblock formats
80------------------
81
82The md driver can support a variety of different superblock formats.
83Currently, it supports superblock formats "0.90.0" and the "md-1" format
84introduced in the 2.5 development series.
85
86The kernel will autodetect which format superblock is being used.
87
88Superblock format '0' is treated differently to others for legacy
89reasons - it is the original superblock format.
90
91
92General Rules - apply for all superblock formats
93------------------------------------------------
94
95An array is 'created' by writing appropriate superblocks to all
96devices.
97
98It is 'assembled' by associating each of these devices with an
99particular md virtual device. Once it is completely assembled, it can
100be accessed.
101
102An array should be created by a user-space tool. This will write
103superblocks to all devices. It will usually mark the array as
104'unclean', or with some devices missing so that the kernel md driver
105can create appropriate redundancy (copying in raid1, parity
106calculation in raid4/5).
107
108When an array is assembled, it is first initialized with the
109SET_ARRAY_INFO ioctl. This contains, in particular, a major and minor
110version number. The major version number selects which superblock
111format is to be used. The minor number might be used to tune handling
112of the format, such as suggesting where on each device to look for the
113superblock.
114
115Then each device is added using the ADD_NEW_DISK ioctl. This
116provides, in particular, a major and minor number identifying the
117device to add.
118
119The array is started with the RUN_ARRAY ioctl.
120
121Once started, new devices can be added. They should have an
122appropriate superblock written to them, and then passed be in with
123ADD_NEW_DISK.
124
125Devices that have failed or are not yet active can be detached from an
126array using HOT_REMOVE_DISK.
127
128
129Specific Rules that apply to format-0 super block arrays, and
130 arrays with no superblock (non-persistent).
131-------------------------------------------------------------
132
133An array can be 'created' by describing the array (level, chunksize
134etc) in a SET_ARRAY_INFO ioctl. This must has major_version==0 and
135raid_disks != 0.
136
137Then uninitialized devices can be added with ADD_NEW_DISK. The
138structure passed to ADD_NEW_DISK must specify the state of the device
139and it's role in the array.
140
141Once started with RUN_ARRAY, uninitialized spares can be added with
142HOT_ADD_DISK.
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800143
144
145
146MD devices in sysfs
147-------------------
148md devices appear in sysfs (/sys) as regular block devices,
149e.g.
150 /sys/block/md0
151
152Each 'md' device will contain a subdirectory called 'md' which
153contains further md-specific information about the device.
154
155All md devices contain:
156 level
157 a text file indicating the 'raid level'. This may be a standard
158 numerical level prefixed by "RAID-" - e.g. "RAID-5", or some
159 other name such as "linear" or "multipath".
160 If no raid level has been set yet (array is still being
161 assembled), this file will be empty.
162
163 raid_disks
164 a text file with a simple number indicating the number of devices
165 in a fully functional array. If this is not yet known, the file
166 will be empty. If an array is being resized (not currently
167 possible) this will contain the larger of the old and new sizes.
NeilBrownda943b92006-01-06 00:20:54 -0800168 Some raid level (RAID1) allow this value to be set while the
169 array is active. This will reconfigure the array. Otherwise
170 it can only be set while assembling an array.
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800171
NeilBrown3b343802006-01-06 00:20:47 -0800172 chunk_size
173 This is the size if bytes for 'chunks' and is only relevant to
174 raid levels that involve striping (1,4,5,6,10). The address space
175 of the array is conceptually divided into chunks and consecutive
176 chunks are striped onto neighbouring devices.
177 The size should be atleast PAGE_SIZE (4k) and should be a power
178 of 2. This can only be set while assembling an array
179
NeilBrowna35b0d62006-01-06 00:20:49 -0800180 component_size
181 For arrays with data redundancy (i.e. not raid0, linear, faulty,
182 multipath), all components must be the same size - or at least
183 there must a size that they all provide space for. This is a key
184 part or the geometry of the array. It is measured in sectors
185 and can be read from here. Writing to this value may resize
186 the array if the personality supports it (raid1, raid5, raid6),
187 and if the component drives are large enough.
188
NeilBrown8bb93aa2006-01-06 00:20:50 -0800189 metadata_version
190 This indicates the format that is being used to record metadata
191 about the array. It can be 0.90 (traditional format), 1.0, 1.1,
192 1.2 (newer format in varying locations) or "none" indicating that
193 the kernel isn't managing metadata at all.
194
NeilBrownd9d166c2006-01-06 00:20:51 -0800195 level
196 The raid 'level' for this array. The name will often (but not
197 always) be the same as the name of the module that implements the
198 level. To be auto-loaded the module must have an alias
199 md-$LEVEL e.g. md-raid5
200 This can be written only while the array is being assembled, not
201 after it is started.
202
NeilBrownd4dbd022006-06-26 00:27:59 -0700203 layout
204 The "layout" for the array for the particular level. This is
205 simply a number that is interpretted differently by different
206 levels. It can be written while assembling an array.
207
NeilBrowna94213b2006-06-26 00:28:00 -0700208 resync_start
209 The point at which resync should start. If no resync is needed,
210 this will be a very large number. At array creation it will
211 default to 0, though starting the array as 'clean' will
212 set it much larger.
213
NeilBrown6d7ff732006-01-06 00:21:16 -0800214 new_dev
215 This file can be written but not read. The value written should
216 be a block device number as major:minor. e.g. 8:0
217 This will cause that device to be attached to the array, if it is
218 available. It will then appear at md/dev-XXX (depending on the
219 name of the device) and further configuration is then possible.
220
NeilBrown16f17b32006-06-26 00:27:37 -0700221 safe_mode_delay
222 When an md array has seen no write requests for a certain period
223 of time, it will be marked as 'clean'. When another write
224 request arrive, the array is marked as 'dirty' before the write
225 commenses. This is known as 'safe_mode'.
226 The 'certain period' is controlled by this file which stores the
227 period as a number of seconds. The default is 200msec (0.200).
228 Writing a value of 0 disables safemode.
229
NeilBrown9e653b62006-06-26 00:27:58 -0700230 array_state
231 This file contains a single word which describes the current
232 state of the array. In many cases, the state can be set by
233 writing the word for the desired state, however some states
234 cannot be explicitly set, and some transitions are not allowed.
235
236 clear
237 No devices, no size, no level
238 Writing is equivalent to STOP_ARRAY ioctl
239 inactive
240 May have some settings, but array is not active
241 all IO results in error
242 When written, doesn't tear down array, but just stops it
243 suspended (not supported yet)
244 All IO requests will block. The array can be reconfigured.
245 Writing this, if accepted, will block until array is quiessent
246 readonly
247 no resync can happen. no superblocks get written.
248 write requests fail
249 read-auto
250 like readonly, but behaves like 'clean' on a write request.
251
252 clean - no pending writes, but otherwise active.
253 When written to inactive array, starts without resync
254 If a write request arrives then
255 if metadata is known, mark 'dirty' and switch to 'active'.
256 if not known, block and switch to write-pending
257 If written to an active array that has pending writes, then fails.
258 active
259 fully active: IO and resync can be happening.
260 When written to inactive array, starts with resync
261
262 write-pending
263 clean, but writes are blocked waiting for 'active' to be written.
264
265 active-idle
266 like active, but no writes have been seen for a while (safe_mode_delay).
267
268
NeilBrown88202a02006-01-06 00:21:36 -0800269 sync_speed_min
270 sync_speed_max
271 This are similar to /proc/sys/dev/raid/speed_limit_{min,max}
272 however they only apply to the particular array.
273 If no value has been written to these, of if the word 'system'
274 is written, then the system-wide value is used. If a value,
275 in kibibytes-per-second is written, then it is used.
276 When the files are read, they show the currently active value
277 followed by "(local)" or "(system)" depending on whether it is
278 a locally set or system-wide value.
279
280 sync_completed
281 This shows the number of sectors that have been completed of
282 whatever the current sync_action is, followed by the number of
283 sectors in total that could need to be processed. The two
284 numbers are separated by a '/' thus effectively showing one
285 value, a fraction of the process that is complete.
286
287 sync_speed
288 This shows the current actual speed, in K/sec, of the current
289 sync_action. It is averaged over the last 30 seconds.
290
NeilBrown6d7ff732006-01-06 00:21:16 -0800291
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800292As component devices are added to an md array, they appear in the 'md'
293directory as new directories named
294 dev-XXX
295where XXX is a name that the kernel knows for the device, e.g. hdb1.
296Each directory contains:
297
298 block
299 a symlink to the block device in /sys/block, e.g.
300 /sys/block/md0/md/dev-hdb1/block -> ../../../../block/hdb/hdb1
301
302 super
303 A file containing an image of the superblock read from, or
304 written to, that device.
305
306 state
307 A file recording the current state of the device in the array
308 which can be a comma separated list of
309 faulty - device has been kicked from active use due to
310 a detected fault
311 in_sync - device is a fully in-sync member of the array
NeilBrownf6556752006-06-26 00:28:01 -0700312 writemostly - device will only be subject to read
313 requests if there are no other options.
314 This applies only to raid1 arrays.
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800315 spare - device is working, but not a full member.
316 This includes spares that are in the process
317 of being recoverred to
318 This list make grow in future.
NeilBrown45dc2de2006-06-26 00:27:58 -0700319 This can be written to.
320 Writing "faulty" simulates a failure on the device.
321 Writing "remove" removes the device from the array.
NeilBrownf6556752006-06-26 00:28:01 -0700322 Writing "writemostly" sets the writemostly flag.
323 Writing "-writemostly" clears the writemostly flag.
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800324
NeilBrown4dbcdc72006-01-06 00:20:52 -0800325 errors
326 An approximate count of read errors that have been detected on
327 this device but have not caused the device to be evicted from
328 the array (either because they were corrected or because they
329 happened while the array was read-only). When using version-1
330 metadata, this value persists across restarts of the array.
331
332 This value can be written while assembling an array thus
333 providing an ongoing count for arrays with metadata managed by
334 userspace.
335
NeilBrown014236d2006-01-06 00:20:55 -0800336 slot
337 This gives the role that the device has in the array. It will
338 either be 'none' if the device is not active in the array
339 (i.e. is a spare or has failed) or an integer less than the
340 'raid_disks' number for the array indicating which possition
341 it currently fills. This can only be set while assembling an
342 array. A device for which this is set is assumed to be working.
343
NeilBrown93c8cad2006-01-06 00:20:56 -0800344 offset
345 This gives the location in the device (in sectors from the
346 start) where data from the array will be stored. Any part of
347 the device before this offset us not touched, unless it is
348 used for storing metadata (Formats 1.1 and 1.2).
349
NeilBrown83303b62006-01-06 00:21:06 -0800350 size
351 The amount of the device, after the offset, that can be used
352 for storage of data. This will normally be the same as the
353 component_size. This can be written while assembling an
354 array. If a value less than the current component_size is
355 written, component_size will be reduced to this value.
356
NeilBrownbb636542005-11-08 21:39:45 -0800357
358An active md device will also contain and entry for each active device
359in the array. These are named
360
361 rdNN
362
363where 'NN' is the possition in the array, starting from 0.
364So for a 3 drive array there will be rd0, rd1, rd2.
365These are symbolic links to the appropriate 'dev-XXX' entry.
366Thus, for example,
367 cat /sys/block/md*/md/rd*/state
368will show 'in_sync' on every line.
369
370
371
372Active md devices for levels that support data redundancy (1,4,5,6)
373also have
374
375 sync_action
376 a text file that can be used to monitor and control the rebuild
377 process. It contains one word which can be one of:
378 resync - redundancy is being recalculated after unclean
379 shutdown or creation
380 recover - a hot spare is being built to replace a
381 failed/missing device
382 idle - nothing is happening
383 check - A full check of redundancy was requested and is
384 happening. This reads all block and checks
385 them. A repair may also happen for some raid
386 levels.
387 repair - A full check and repair is happening. This is
388 similar to 'resync', but was requested by the
389 user, and the write-intent bitmap is NOT used to
390 optimise the process.
391
392 This file is writable, and each of the strings that could be
393 read are meaningful for writing.
394
395 'idle' will stop an active resync/recovery etc. There is no
396 guarantee that another resync/recovery may not be automatically
397 started again, though some event will be needed to trigger
398 this.
399 'resync' or 'recovery' can be used to restart the
400 corresponding operation if it was stopped with 'idle'.
401 'check' and 'repair' will start the appropriate process
402 providing the current state is 'idle'.
403
404 mismatch_count
405 When performing 'check' and 'repair', and possibly when
406 performing 'resync', md will count the number of errors that are
407 found. The count in 'mismatch_cnt' is the number of sectors
408 that were re-written, or (for 'check') would have been
409 re-written. As most raid levels work in units of pages rather
410 than sectors, this my be larger than the number of actual errors
411 by a factor of the number of sectors in a page.
412
413Each active md device may also have attributes specific to the
414personality module that manages it.
415These are specific to the implementation of the module and could
416change substantially if the implementation changes.
417
418These currently include
419
420 stripe_cache_size (currently raid5 only)
421 number of entries in the stripe cache. This is writable, but
422 there are upper and lower limits (32768, 16). Default is 128.
423 strip_cache_active (currently raid5 only)
424 number of active entries in the stripe cache