Ubuntu VBox: Windows 10 Pro, Ubuntu RAID1+02 External USB Disks - Repartitioned

Abstract: Learn how to handle repartitioned USB disks in a Ubuntu RAID1+02 setup with VirtualBox and Windows 10 Pro.

Created: 2024-04-19 by UserComp.com Editors

Ubuntu on VirtualBox with Windows 10 Pro: Configuring RAID1+0 on Two External USB Disks

Setting up a RAID1+0 array on two external USB disks in Ubuntu, running on VirtualBox with Windows 10 Pro, can be a complex process. This article will guide you through the necessary steps to achieve this setup. Unfortunately, the author's server suddenly restarted, causing the disks to get repartitioned. However, this misfortune can be turned into an opportunity to learn about RAID arrays and how to set them up in Ubuntu.

What is RAID?

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Independent Disks. It is a technology that combines multiple physical disks into a single logical unit to improve performance, reliability, or both. There are several RAID levels, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. In this article, we will focus on RAID1+0, also known as RAID10.

RAID1+0: The Best of Both Worlds

RAID1+0, also known as RAID10, combines the advantages of RAID1 and RAID0. RAID1 is a mirroring technique that provides redundancy by writing the same data to two disks. RAID0 is a striping technique that provides increased performance by writing data across multiple disks. RAID1+0 combines these two techniques to provide both redundancy and increased performance.

Setting Up RAID1+0 in Ubuntu

To set up RAID1+0 in Ubuntu, we need to create a RAID1 array with two disks and then create a RAID0 array with the two RAID1 arrays. The following steps will guide you through this process:

Connect the two external USB disks to the Ubuntu system.
Identify the disks using the lsblk command. For example:

$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
loop0    7:0    0    24M  1 loop /snap/canonical-livepatch/95
loop1    7:1    0  88.8M  1 loop /snap/core/9066
loop2    7:2    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-calculator/406
loop3    7:3    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-calculator/446
loop4    7:4    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-characters/296
loop5    7:5    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-characters/317
loop6    7:6    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-logs/61
loop7    7:7    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-logs/70
loop8    7:8    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-system-monitor/141
loop9    7:9    0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-system-monitor/149
loop10   7:10   0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-terminal/170
loop11   7:11   0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-terminal/173
loop12   7:12   0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-terminal/180
loop13   7:13   0  43.2M  1 loop /snap/gnome-terminal/185
sda      8:0    0 931.5G  0 disk
├─sda1   8:1    0   512M  0 part /boot/efi
├─sda2   8:2    0    16G  0 part [SWAP]
└─sda3   8:3    0 914.9G  0 part /
sdb      8:16   0 931.5G  0 disk
└─sdb1   8:17   0 931.5G  0 part
sdc      8:32   0 931.5G  0 disk
└─sdc1   8:33   0 931.5G  0 part
sdd      8:48   0 931.5G  0 disk
└─sdd1   8:49   0 931.5G  0 part

In this example, the two external USB disks are /dev/sdb and /dev/sdc.

Create a RAID1 array with the two disks using the mdadm command. For example:

$ sudo mdadm --create /dev/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 /dev/sdb /dev/sdc
mdadm: Note: this array has metadata at the start and
    may not be suitable as a boot device. If you plan to
    create a bootable array, use --metadata=1.6 instead.
mdadm: size set to 1953517952K
mdadm: automatically enabling write-ahead log for level 1
Continue creating array? y
mdadm: Defaulting to version 1.2 metadata
mdadm: array /dev/md0 started.

This command creates a RAID1 array with two disks, /dev/sdb and /dev/sdc, and names it /dev/md0.

Format the RAID1 array using the mkfs.ext4 command. For example:

$ sudo mkfs.ext4 /dev/md0
mke2fs 1.45.5 (07-Jan-2020)
Discarding device blocks: done
Creating filesystem with 244198912 4k blocks and 61055488 inodes
Filesystem UUID: 5b5d6f0b-2e0e-4b6c-86f1-34f028c8c8f4
Superblock backups stored on blocks:
    32768, 98304, 163840, 229376, 294912, 819200, 884736, 1605632, 2654208,
    4096000, 7962624, 11239424, 20480000, 23887872

Allocating group tables: done
Writing inode tables: done
Creating journal (262144 blocks): done
Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done

This command formats the RAID1 array with the ext4 filesystem.

Create a RAID0 array with the two RAID1 arrays using the mdadm command. For example:

$ sudo mdadm --create /dev/md1 --level=0 --raid-devices=2 /dev/md0 /dev/md2
mdadm: Defaulting to version 1.2 metadata
mdadm: array /dev/md1 started.

This command creates a RAID0 array with two RAID1 arrays, /dev/md0 and /dev/md2, and names it /dev/md1.

Setting up RAID1+0 in Ubuntu can be a complex process, but it provides both redundancy and increased performance. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can create a RAID1+0 array on two external USB disks in Ubuntu, running on VirtualBox with Windows 10 Pro. The author's misfortune of a suddenly restarted server can be turned into an opportunity to learn about RAID arrays and how to set them up in Ubuntu.

References

Latest News

Generating SSH Key Failed on Windows 11 (Simplified Chinese)

This article provides solutions for the issue of SSH key generation failure on Windows 11 in Simplified Chinese. Learn how to resolve this problem and continue with your Git installation.

Windows 11: Duplicate and Extend Displays in a Home Office Setup

Learn how to duplicate and extend displays in a home office setup using Windows 11. This guide provides step-by-step instructions to optimize your workspace comfort.

Increase Timeout Limit in Firefox

Learn how to increase the timeout limit in Firefox to avoid high network latency issues causing the browser to hit the timeout limit while loading pages.

Creating Non-Persistent Shadow Copy Backups on Windows 11 Pro

Learn how to create non-persistent shadow copy backups on Windows 11 Pro using WSL and Google Cloud Storage, solving the issue of WSL seeing open Windows files locked.

HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8: DHCP Server Not Pinging Gateway

This article provides a solution for connecting an HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 running a fresh install of Linux Mint 22.1, using an Ethernet cable previously used with an HP laptop, which has proven internet connectivity, but fails to connect with the DHCP server not pinging the gateway.

Disabling Tenor GIF selector window in Emoji picker on Windows 11

Learn how to disable the Tenor GIF selector window in the Emoji picker on Windows 11, which starts flashing distracting animations when invoked.

Troubleshooting Webcam Upgrade on Windows 11 N Pro

This article provides a solution for the error encountered while upgrading a computer running Windows 11 N Pro, as the upgrade is not officially supported due to the lack of TPM. The issue starts when attempting to launch the Windows Camera app.

Setting up Office PC Server with Raspberry Pi: Multihop SSH Tunnel Reverse Forward Tunnel

Learn how to set up an Office PC Server with a Raspberry Pi using a Multihop SSH Tunnel Reverse Forward Tunnel. This guide will walk you through the process of connecting your home PC (192.168.1.42) to a Raspberry Pi and opening an SSH remote tunnel. Follow this tutorial to securely access your office server from home.

Why does the mouse cursor trail on older Windows versions?

Older versions of Windows sometimes cause the mouse cursor to trail, leaving copies of the cursor on the screen as it moves. This can be a problem when the computer is running slowly.

Optimizing ChatGPT Web App Performance in Firefox

This article provides tips and tricks to improve the performance of a ChatGPT web app in Firefox without losing functionality. Long conversations and slow typing input delays are common issues addressed in this article.

Troubleshooting HDR Luminance Levels Mapping/Scaling while Playing HDR on PC

This article provides solutions for issues encountered while playing downloaded HDR content on PC, such as incorrect luminance levels, mapping, or scaling. Common problems include games and YouTube not supporting HDR, even when setup is correct.

Conditional Formatting: Chart Title Greyed

This article explains how to use Conditional Formatting in a chart, but the chart title is greyed out. Here's how to resolve this issue...

VeraCrypt Dual Boot Setup Disappears After Windows Reinstallation

This article provides a solution for the issue where the VeraCrypt dual boot setup disappears after a Windows reinstallation.

Options for Installing NVME PCIe Adapter on IBM System x3650 M3 Type 9745KPG

Recently purchased an old IBM System x3650 M3 Type 9745KPG without drives. Wanting to install an NVME PCIe adapter for read support. What are the options?

Transparent Selection in Microsoft Paint Windows 11

Learn how to use the Transparent Selection option in Microsoft Paint Windows 11 for seamless image editing. Follow this guide to make your editing experience more efficient.

Inspiron 155000 Black Screen Boot Loop

A Dell Inspiron 155000 laptop is stuck in a boot loop while charging and downloading a file. The laptop returns 'Found laptop', and turning the charging lights blinks 3 amber and 1 white.

Check Bitvise SSH Server License Validity Period on Windows 10

Bitvise SSH Server license has expired and the server stops working, causing loss of access to remote computers. Check the current license validity date to plan ahead.

Preserving Layers Saving in Microsoft Paint on Windows 11

Learn how to preserve layers when saving an image in Microsoft Paint on Windows 11 to avoid flattening and losing the ability to edit the image.

Change Time Windows CMD Without Admin Rights

Learn how to change the system time in Windows CMD without requiring admin rights using GitHub's Action Runner and Clock Sync.

How to Transpose Rows/Columns in Notepad++ using Python Script Plugin

Learn how to transpose rows or columns in Notepad++ using the Python Script plugin. This article provides a step-by-step guide to install and use the plugin for efficient data manipulation.

File Complaint Expedia

Learn how to file a complaint with Expedia. This guide covers steps for filing a complaint on Linux, Windows, and MacOS platforms.

Unable to Connect Home Sky Broadband Network on Win10 Laptop: WiFi/Ethernet not valid IP configuration

This article provides solutions for Win10 laptop users who are unable to connect their home Sky Broadband network due to the 'WiFi/Ethernet not valid IP configuration' error.

Change Visited Link Color in Firefox (Latest Update: April 2025, v138.0)

Learn how to change the visited link color in Firefox with the latest update (April 2025, v138.0). This article provides step-by-step instructions to customize your Firefox browser.

Resolved Dispute Expedia

Learn how to resolve disputes with Expedia effectively. This article provides a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Since upgrading to Windows 11, how to use Ctrl-Alt-Delete to login?

After upgrading to Windows 11, the Ctrl-Alt-Delete key combination no longer brings up the prompt to enter a PIN (logging into Windows). No indication is given when the keys are pressed.

Cron Won't Start VirtualBox VM: A Solution

In this article, we will discuss a solution to a common issue where Cron won't start a VirtualBox VM. This problem can occur on various operating systems, and we will provide a solution that should work across Linux, Windows, and MacOS.

Block Internet Access for VLAN using EdgeRouter X5

This article will guide you on how to block Internet access for a VLAN using EdgeRouter X5. By the end of this article, you will learn how to isolate your printer from the Internet while connected to a specific VLAN.

Export Command Line Column Task Manager Data to CSV

Learn how to export the Task Manager's memory usage data to a CSV file using the command line. This guide covers Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Configuring OS/Browser to Open Certain File Extensions in Specific Websites (Browser-Specific) - Tech Support

Learn how to configure your operating system and browser to open specific file extensions in certain websites, making it easier to handle old computers and access modern web applications.

Recommendation for Weird/Big Multi-Monitor KVM Setup

This article provides a recommendation for a weird/big multi-monitor KVM setup using a Thunderbolt port and drive. It will guide you through the process of setting up a desktop replacement with six screens, ensuring a seamless and efficient work environment.

Running rsync on Windows using MSYS2: Source/Dest Path Formats

This article provides instructions on how to use rsync on Windows with MSYS2, converting Windows source/dest paths to a Linux-compatible format. This allows syncing through rsync.

Automating Keyboard Shortcuts with PowerShell and Task Scheduler

Learn how to automate keyboard shortcuts using PowerShell and Task Scheduler. This guide will show you how to create and schedule a PowerShell script that sends specific keystrokes to open applications.

Splitting Multiline Text Words - PowerShell

Learn how to split multiline text words using PowerShell. This article provides a simple solution to the problem of splitting text at specific characters, even when they are followed by whitespace. Try the provided script to effortlessly split your multiline text.

Creating a User-Defined Snippets Repository in Kate

This article provides a step-by-step guide on creating and setting up a user-defined snippets repository in Kate, a powerful and feature-rich text editor. Follow these instructions to streamline your coding experience.

Creating a Spreadsheet List with Addresses and Tickbox for Payment Received

Learn how to create a spreadsheet list with addresses and a tickbox for payment received. This tutorial will guide you step-by-step to organize your data effectively.