[COLUG] Linux RAID problem

[Dane Miller]

Here's an update.  Thanks Joshua, Jonadab, and Tom for your replies and
suggestions.  

I upgraded the kernel from 2.4.20 to 2.4.26 and am still in the process
of testing, but so far it looks better.  The computer made it through a
full backup without any problems.  I'm not sure why kernel 2.4.20 would
work for the first 6 months of this computer's life before causing
problems... a puzzle.

My gut says it's a sign of an underlying hardware problem. Maybe IDE
controller problems (Jonadab) or power drain from non-essential
components (Joshua). I will continue testing and keep you posted.

Dane

On Thu, 2004-06-24 at 16:38, Dane Miller wrote:
> Hi all,
> 
> I'm hoping someone might have some ideas about a frustrating server
> problem I am experiencing.  My log files are recording nothing out of
> the ordinary and I can predictably crash my server... ouch :(
> 
> Recently, whenever I do a full backup of /home on the server, about
> fifteen minutes into the backup the server completely locks up. No ping
> response, no console access, unable to wake monitor from power saving
> mode.  So I do a hard power-off. 
> 
> /home lives on a software RAID 1 array of 3 80gb Western Digital ATA100
> disks (2 active disks + 1 spare).  When I reboot the box the RAID 1
> mirror has to be rebuilt.  The specific error message in dmesg is "md:
> md0: raid array is not clean -- starting background reconstruction" 
> 
> I am performing the backup with ssh, tar, and gzip over the network.
> 
> This problem started earlier this month and after repeated crashes,
> caused hardware failure in the two active 80gb disks.  Since then, I've
> replaced the power supply and the two active disks.
> 
> The server is a Libranet 2.8.1 Debian Sarge/Unstable box.  Kernel
> 2.4.20.  raidtools-1.00.3
> 
> Any thoughts?  Hardware? Software?  
> 
> Any suggestions would be really appreciated.
> 
> Thanks,
> Dane
> 
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