[PLUG] IDE RAID and Linux (revisions)

[Launi]

I apologize as I have made a mistake in my original posting.  I'm only using
*4* drives for Raid level 5 I'll update the text below.

*** 
I did a search on the archives (http://plug.skylab.org/cgi-bin/htsearch) and
found nothing for IDE RAID.
***

I'm going to build a replacement Linux server for one of my aging servers
and want to do RAID 5.  I have done hardware SCSI RAID on Window$ so I know
how it works in principle.  I have never done software IDE RAID before.  I
have a few questions before I get started that may save me aggravation later
on. I understand that the Linux 2.4.x kernel supports software RAID and I
also know that in order to get the best performance you need your IDE drives
on one channel each.  I want RAID 5 with one hot spare using 4 identical 72
GB drives.

I'm open to using any Linux distribution that will make this work.  I have
used RedHat, Mandrake and Debian in the past.

 1. Can I just have my 4 IDE drives connected to two separate two channel
PCI IDE controllers and Linux will recognize them during startup?  2. If I
do buy a 4 channel controller (Rocket Raid 404) which does not support RAID
5 via hardware, will Linux support it using software?  3. Should I only use
the controllers listed here
(http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/Hardware-HOWTO/ideraid.html)?
 4. If I'm not concerned about performance can I use one 2 channel PCI IDE
controller and connect the four drives (two on each channel)?


Basic RAID configuration questions
 
 1. If I use Linux software RAID without a hardware driver should I boot off
a single disk and then make RAID for just my data?  2. If I have hardware
RAID with Linux driver support can I install directly on the RAID?

I'm on a budget and this is a home business system so that I can store my
clients graphic work.  If I can use one PCI card with 4 ATA controllers on
it at a cost of $100 then this would be ideal.  If I have to go with a
higher end SX6000 or Escalade 7500-4 ATA 133 RAID Controller Card then I
would have to spend about $300.  I'll spend the money if that's what it
takes to work, but I wanted to use Linux software RAID and did not want to
have to deal with third party hardware drivers.

Lonnie Wormley
______________________________________________
First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. 
Then they fight you. Then you win. 
                             ~ Mohandas Gandhi