{"id":6646,"date":"2024-01-07T12:15:33","date_gmt":"2024-01-07T19:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/?p=6646"},"modified":"2024-01-07T12:15:48","modified_gmt":"2024-01-07T19:15:48","slug":"install-mdadm-command-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/install-mdadm-command-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering RAID: How to Install Mdadm Command in Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Are you looking to install the mdadm<\/code> command on your Linux system but aren’t sure where to start? Many Linux users, particularly beginners, might find the task intimidating. Yet, installing mdadm<\/code> will make it easy to manage RAID arrays via the Linux command line. Mdadm is also readily available on most package management systems, making it a straightforward process once you know-how.<\/p>\n

In this tutorial, we will guide you on how to install the mdadm<\/code> command on your Linux system.<\/strong> We will show you methods for both APT and YUM-based distributions, delve into compiling mdadm<\/code> from source, installing a specific version, and finally, how to use the mdadm<\/code> command and ensure it’s installed correctly.<\/p>\n

So, let’s dive in and begin installing mdadm<\/code> on your Linux system!<\/p>\n

TL;DR: How Do I Install and Use the ‘mdadm’ Command in Linux?<\/h2>\n

\n In most Linux distributions, ‘mdadm’ can be installed using the package manager. For example, in Ubuntu, you can run sudo apt-get install mdadm<\/code>. To create a RAID array, you can use the command mdadm --create \/dev\/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 \/dev\/sda1 \/dev\/sdb1<\/code>.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

# Install mdadm on Ubuntu\nsudo apt-get install mdadm\n\n# Create a RAID array\nmdadm --create \/dev\/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 \/dev\/sda1 \/dev\/sdb1\n\n# Output:\n# mdadm: array \/dev\/md0 started.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
This is just a basic way to install the mdadm<\/code> command in Linux and create a RAID array, but there’s much more to learn about installing and using mdadm<\/code>. Continue reading for more detailed information and advanced usage scenarios.<\/p>\n
Understanding and Installing the ‘mdadm’ Command<\/h2>\n
The mdadm<\/code> command is a powerful utility in Linux used to manage and monitor software RAID devices. RAID, or Redundant Array of Independent Disks, is a technology that combines multiple physical disks into a single logical unit for the purposes of redundancy, performance, or both. The mdadm<\/code> command allows you to create, manage, and monitor RAID arrays in a Linux environment.<\/p>\n
Now, let’s explore how to install the mdadm<\/code> command in Linux using different package managers.<\/p>\n
Installing with APT<\/h3>\n
For Debian-based distributions like Ubuntu, you can use the APT package manager to install mdadm<\/code>.<\/p>\n
sudo apt update\nsudo apt install mdadm\n\n# Output:\n# Reading package lists... Done\n# Building dependency tree\n# Reading state information... Done\n# The following additional packages will be installed:\n#  libaio1 libreadline5\n# Suggested packages:\n#  dracut-core\n# The following NEW packages will be installed:\n#  libaio1 libreadline5 mdadm\n# 0 upgraded, 3 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.\n# Need to get 395 kB of archives.\n# After this operation, 1,082 kB of additional disk space will be used.\n# Do you want to continue? [Y\/n]\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we first update the package lists for upgrades and new packages using sudo apt update<\/code>. Then, we install the mdadm<\/code> package with sudo apt install mdadm<\/code>. The terminal will then show the progress of the installation.<\/p>\n
Installing with YUM<\/h3>\n
For Red Hat-based distributions like CentOS, you can use the YUM package manager to install mdadm<\/code>.<\/p>\n
sudo yum install mdadm\n\n# Output:\n# Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks\n# Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile\n# Resolving Dependencies\n# --> Running transaction check\n# ---> Package mdadm.x86_64 0:4.1-5.el7 will be installed\n# --> Finished Dependency Resolution\n# Dependencies Resolved\n#\n# Total download size: 400 k\n# Installed size: 1.2 M\n# Is this ok [y\/d\/N]: y\n# Downloading packages:\n# Running transaction check\n# Running transaction test\n# Transaction test succeeded\n# Running transaction\n# Installing : mdadm-4.1-5.el7.x86_64\n# Verifying : mdadm-4.1-5.el7.x86_64\n# Installed:\n# mdadm.x86_64 0:4.1-5.el7\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In this example, we use sudo yum install mdadm<\/code> to install the mdadm<\/code> package. The terminal then shows the progress of the installation.<\/p>\n
Installing Mdadm from Source Code<\/h2>\n
If you require a specific version of mdadm<\/code> or wish to have the latest updates, you might want to consider installing from source code. Here’s how you can do it:<\/p>\n
wget https:\/\/www.kernel.org\/pub\/linux\/utils\/raid\/mdadm\/mdadm-4.1.tar.xz\n\n# Output:\n# --2022-06-07 15:52:20--  https:\/\/www.kernel.org\/pub\/linux\/utils\/raid\/mdadm\/mdadm-4.1.tar.xz\n# Resolving www.kernel.org (www.kernel.org)... 198.145.20.140, 199.233.151.196, 2604:1380:2001:d00::1\n# Connecting to www.kernel.org (www.kernel.org)|198.145.20.140|:443... connected.\n# HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK\n# Length: 416964 (407K) [application\/x-xz]\n# Saving to: \u2018mdadm-4.1.tar.xz\u2019\n\n100%[======================================>] 416,964     --.-K\/s   in 0.1s\n\n# 2022-06-07 15:52:21 (3.14 MB\/s) - \u2018mdadm-4.1.tar.xz\u2019 saved [416964\/416964]\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use the wget<\/code> command to download the source code for mdadm<\/code> version 4.1. You can replace the URL with the one corresponding to the version you want to download.<\/p>\n
Installing Different Versions of Mdadm<\/h2>\n
From Source Code<\/h3>\n
Once you have the source code, you can compile and install it with the following commands:<\/p>\n
# Extract the tarball\nxz -d mdadm-4.1.tar.xz\n\n# Output:\n# mdadm-4.1.tar\n\n# Compile the source code\nmake\n\n# Output:\n# cc -c -g -O2 -Wp,-D_FORTIFY_SOURCE=2 -fexceptions -fstack-protector-strong --param=ssp-buffer-size=4 -grecord-gcc-switches -m64 -mtune=generic -D_GNU_SOURCE -D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64 -D_LARGEFILE_SOURCE -DMDASSEMBLE -I..\/include -o mdassemble.o mdassemble.c\n\n# Install mdadm\nsudo make install\n\n# Output:\n# install -m 755 -d \/usr\/local\/sbin\n# install -m 755 mdadm \/usr\/local\/sbin\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In this example, we first extract the tarball using xz -d<\/code>. Then, we compile the source code using make<\/code>. Finally, we install mdadm<\/code> using sudo make install<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Using Package Managers<\/h3>\n
APT<\/h4>\n
On Debian-based distributions, you can install a specific version of mdadm<\/code> using the APT package manager. First, you need to look up the available versions:<\/p>\n
apt-cache madison mdadm\n\n# Output:\n# mdadm | 4.1-5ubuntu1.2 | http:\/\/archive.ubuntu.com\/ubuntu bionic-updates\/main amd64 Packages\n# mdadm | 4.1-5ubuntu1 | http:\/\/archive.ubuntu.com\/ubuntu bionic\/main amd64 Packages\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use apt-cache madison mdadm<\/code> to list the available versions of mdadm<\/code>. Then, you can install a specific version using sudo apt install mdadm=<\/code>.<\/p>\n
YUM<\/h4>\n
On Red Hat-based distributions, you can install a specific version of mdadm<\/code> using the YUM package manager. First, you need to look up the available versions:<\/p>\n
yum --showduplicates list mdadm\n\n# Output:\n# Available Packages\n# mdadm.x86_64 3.5-7.el7  base\n# mdadm.x86_64 4.1-5.el7  updates\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use yum --showduplicates list mdadm<\/code> to list the available versions of mdadm<\/code>. Then, you can install a specific version using sudo yum install mdadm-<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Version Comparison<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Version<\/th>\nKey Features<\/th>\nCompatibility<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
4.1<\/td>\nImproved support for RAID6, RAID10, and IMSM.<\/td>\nCompatible with all modern Linux kernels.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.5<\/td>\nBasic support for RAID0, RAID1, RAID4, RAID5, and RAID6.<\/td>\nCompatible with Linux kernel 2.6 and later.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Using the Mdadm Command<\/h2>\n
The mdadm<\/code> command is primarily used to create, manage, and monitor RAID arrays. Here’s a basic example of how to create a RAID1 array with two devices, \/dev\/sda1 and \/dev\/sdb1:<\/p>\n
mdadm --create \/dev\/md0 --level=1 --raid-devices=2 \/dev\/sda1 \/dev\/sdb1\n\n# Output:\n# mdadm: array \/dev\/md0 started.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use mdadm --create<\/code> to create a new RAID array. The \/dev\/md0<\/code> argument specifies the name of the new array. The --level=1<\/code> argument specifies the RAID level, and the --raid-devices=2<\/code> argument specifies the number of devices in the array. Finally, \/dev\/sda1<\/code> and \/dev\/sdb1<\/code> are the devices to include in the array.<\/p>\n
Verifying Mdadm Installation<\/h2>\n
After installing mdadm<\/code>, you can check its version to ensure that it has been installed correctly:<\/p>\n
mdadm --version\n\n# Output:\n# mdadm - v4.1 - 2018-10-01\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use mdadm --version<\/code> to display the version of the installed mdadm<\/code> package. The terminal then prints the version of mdadm<\/code> that is currently installed on your system.<\/p>\n
Diversifying RAID Management: Alternative Tools<\/h2>\n
While mdadm<\/code> is a powerful and widely used tool for managing RAID arrays in Linux, it’s not the only option available. There are alternative tools that you can use, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore one such alternative: raidtools<\/code>.<\/p>\n
Raidtools: An Alternative to Mdadm<\/h3>\n
Raidtools<\/code> is a set of utilities that serve the same purpose as mdadm<\/code>. It is an older software package and is not as feature-rich as mdadm<\/code>, but it can still be used to manage RAID arrays in Linux.<\/p>\n
To install raidtools<\/code>, you can use the following commands based on your distribution:<\/p>\n
Installing Raidtools with APT<\/h4>\n
sudo apt update\nsudo apt install raidtools2\n\n# Output:\n# Reading package lists... Done\n# Building dependency tree\n# Reading state information... Done\n# The following NEW packages will be installed:\n#  raidtools2\n# 0 upgraded, 1 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.\n# Need to get 34.8 kB of archives.\n# After this operation, 102 kB of additional disk space will be used.\n# Get:1 http:\/\/archive.ubuntu.com\/ubuntu bionic\/universe amd64 raidtools2 amd64 1.00.3-16 [34.8 kB]\n# Fetched 34.8 kB in 1s (25.1 kB\/s)\n# Selecting previously unselected package raidtools2.\n# (Reading database ... 186746 files and directories currently installed.)\n# Preparing to unpack ...\/raidtools2_1.00.3-16_amd64.deb ...\n# Unpacking raidtools2 (1.00.3-16) ...\n# Setting up raidtools2 (1.00.3-16) ...\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Installing Raidtools with YUM<\/h4>\n
sudo yum install raidtools\n\n# Output: \n# Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks\n# Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile\n# Resolving Dependencies\n# --> Running transaction check\n# ---> Package raidtools.x86_64 0:1.00.3-16.el7 will be installed\n# --> Finished Dependency Resolution\n# Dependencies Resolved\n#\n# Total download size: 34 k\n# Installed size: 59 k\n# Is this ok [y\/d\/N]: y\n# Downloading packages:\n# Running transaction check\n# Running transaction test\n# Transaction test succeeded\n# Running transaction\n# Installing : raidtools-1.00.3-16.el7.x86_64\n# Verifying : raidtools-1.00.3-16.el7.x86_64\n# Installed:\n# raidtools.x86_64 0:1.00.3-16.el7\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Using Raidtools<\/h3>\n
Using raidtools<\/code> is similar to using mdadm<\/code>. Here’s an example of how to create a RAID1 array with raidtools<\/code>:<\/p>\n
mkraid \/dev\/md0\n\n# Output:\n# mkraid: \/etc\/raidtab doesn't exist or is not a regular file.\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the above example, we use mkraid<\/code> to create a new RAID array. The \/dev\/md0<\/code> argument specifies the name of the new array. However, raidtools<\/code> requires a configuration file (\/etc\/raidtab<\/code>) to operate, which we haven’t created yet.<\/p>\n
Raidtools vs Mdadm<\/h3>\n
While raidtools<\/code> can manage RAID arrays in Linux, it’s not as user-friendly or flexible as mdadm<\/code>. Here are some key differences:<\/p>\n