I have a question in regards to how Mikrotik lock the OS down to a particluar harddisk. Does the OS lock down to the serial number of the disk or by some other method. If so then if I install a Raid controller and configure a Raid 1 array for redundancy will I have problems. The main issue I can see is if the serial number of the drive is used and I have to replace a drive in the mirror pair will the OS keep running even tho the new drive will have a diff serial number.
There are more than one things that are taken in mind when the software binds the license to the drive. but most likely this won’t work, because RAID [that requires drivers] is not supported.
So how do I build redundancy into my router. As hardisks are prone to crashing. What method can I use to quickly recover from a departed disk. Can I clone the image and somehow push it to a new drive with such a
utility as Symantec Ghost.
well there is VRRP :
http://www.mikrotik.com/docs/ros/2.8/ip/vrrp.main.4
also recommended is the use of Flashdisks and Compact Flashes which are known to be resistent to shock and harsh conditions. Although they have a limited number of writes, they last for a few years before that number runs out.
Can I buy a second OS license and in the case of a crash install the second Harddisk restore the config and bring the unit online. I could then re-apply for a replacement license for $10. Do you think this is viable.
yes, but not only you can keep the other one standing by, waiting for a problem with the first one, but you can make them work together, so there is no downtime at all ! like in the VRRP example i posted above
If i decide yo use VRRP do I need to duplicate all firewall rules etc between all router nodes or does vrrp take care of this. IE do you configure settings on one and they are replicated. From what I have read only the IP is moved from one node to the other.
you are right, only the ip is taken over. the re-configuration should be done by hand.
hello,
first of all, compact flash cards are the most reliable what we have right now, and honestly said, I don’t believe in their ‘fading’.
But what about hardware raid? If you can’t buy / use CF (?why?), you can use your spare PCI EIDE RAID controller - OS is not able to see two harddisks in Raid1, it sees only one of them, something like virtual. Depending on features and versatility of that controller, you have to switch the machine off, change failed drive (btw, how will you know it failed? controller is not able to send you email or something), rebuild the array and start up routerOS. Or - if it is very expensive RAID EIDE, you will be able to change HDD on-the-fly without switching off…
This way it has to work.
bye, mp3turbo.
Which particular controllers are you talking about? The only one I found to be a true hardware ATA RAID is EasyRAID.de (that does not say there are no such things except the EasyRAID, but rather that they are rather rare). Many so called ATA/IDE hardware RAID controllers are not completely hardware, and calling them “hardware” is more or less marketing trick - they need OS drivers to work properly. And if it needs an OS driver, than it is not supported by MT
So back to my original question. If I use IDE raid how is the OS tied to a drive or is it tied to the Raid Ide held in the metadata that is used for the licensing. I think I will do some tests by creating a array and failing and replacing drives and see if the OS keeps running
If you have a true motherboard / hardware RAID it shouldn’t change. I have not tested this, but I would like to know for sure. When I create a RAID on my intel 875pbz using intel raid in the bios, anything outside the bios thinks of it as a single drive. Until you tear it down and rebuild it does it change. There is a chance you would lose your license, but shouldnt
Sam