You can combine RAID sets to combine their benefits. For example, you can create a RAID set that combines the fast disk access of a striped RAID set and the data protection of a mirrored RAID set. To do this, create two RAID sets of one type and then create a RAID set of another type, using the first two RAID sets as the disks.

The RAID sets you combine must be created with Disk Utility or diskutil in Mac OS X v10.4 or later.

You cannot mix the method of partitioning used on the disks in a RAID set. (The PPC platform is APMFormat and the Intel platform is GPTFormat.)

Mac Pro desktop computers and Intel-based Xserves can start from a software RAID volume. Some Intel-based Macs do not support starting up from software RAID volumes. If you start Intel-based Macs from a software RAID volume, the computer might start up with a flashing question mark.

The following computers do not support starting up from software RAID volumes: ÂÂ iMac (Early 2006)

ÂÂ Mac mini (Early 2006)

If you need more sophisticated RAID support, consider a hardware RAID.

Creating a RAID Set Using Disk Utility

You can use the Installer to open Disk Utility and then use Disk Utility to create the RAID set from available disks. Creating a RAID set erases the contents of the disks involved, so it isn’t necessary to erase the disks before creating the RAID set.

RAID set volumes can be Mac OS Extended format, Mac OS Extended (Journaled) format, Mac OS Extended format (Case-Sensitive) format, Mac OS Extended (Journaled, Case-Sensitive) format, and MS-DOS FAT format. For more information about volume formats, see “Preparing Disks for Installing Mac OS X Server” on page 92.

You cannot create a RAID set from the startup disk.

To create a RAID set using Disk Utility:

1Launch Disk Utility.

If you are in the Installer, Disk Utility is available from the Utilities menu; otherwise, launch the application from /Applications/Utilities/Disk Utility.

2Select the disk to be part of the RAID set. You can’t select your startup disk.

When creating RAID sets or adding disks, specify the disk instead of a partition.

3Click RAID.

4Choose your RAID set type.

Chapter 5    Installation and Deployment

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Apple 10.6 manual You cannot create a RAID set from the startup disk, To create a RAID set using Disk Utility