Using MDADM & Changing OS's from Ubuntu to Debian - Help!

[enduser0054]

Hello! I have a file server running Ubuntu 7.04 w/ three hard drives

(01) the OS (Ubuntu 7.04)
(02) 500 gig Western Digital
(03) 500 gig Western Digital

Both 500 gig drives are identical and are currently in raid 01 w/ MDADM running in Ubuntu

7.04 w/ no issues so far.

I would like to load Debian 4.0R1 or 4.0R2 on the first drive (01) and not wipe out or

destroy the data on drives (02) and (03). I basically want to remove Ubuntu 7.04 and

install Debian on the first drive (01) and install MDADM again via the deb package in

Debian. I then want to let MDADM know that the two drives (02) & (03) exist and that they

are in raid 01 and continue in raid 01. I really don't want to loose any data and I'm

afraid that after I install MDADM again, the possibility of data corruption or loss may

occur. I understand the idea of backing up data, but I really don't want to reload most

of it. Does anyone have any ideas on how I should proceed or where to look for some

'real' documentation on this initiative?

When initially installing and getting MDADM to work, the config file was optional and from

what I read, it was mainly for documentation purposes. Would something as finding the

actual config file that MDADM uses, save it, install the new OS and package, and then copy

the old config info back over work? I'm not at home, so I do not know what exactly the

dev's are, but I think it's the following...


Raid 01
/dev/md01 = /dev/sdb02 and /dev/sdb03 (again, I'm not at home, so it's a guess currently)

Thanks so much in advance!

[eyceguy]

generally if you're careful, and pay attention during the install and read stuff, you wont overwrite the info on the two WD drives.

during the partition setup there should be an option to keep data intact (which you would want checked) or a check box for formating (which you want un-checked)

but if you are REALLY paranoid about losing data, why not remove the drives during the installation and then set them back up after you successfully install debian?

[EDIT]
Forgot to answer your part about MDADAM
It should work the way you describe by finding the config, saving it and then restoring it.
Worst case: you might have to change some drive id's around to match the way the new system sets them up.