OS X software RAID portability

[Elliott Balsley]

Here's a hypothetical question. If I create a software RAID 0 in Disk Utility using internal drives in a Mac Pro, can I later move the array to another Mac? Under what circumstances? Does it matter what OS version, system model, etc.? What if I moved the disks to an external SATA port multiplier and used it on a MacBook Pro? How much risk is involved with this?

 

[Ryan De Franco]

I too am curious...

 

[Jonas Rejman]

I moved a RAID 0 from a thrunderbolt enclosure into a mac pro tower and back, without any data issues.
Apple's software raid seems to be able to recognize the disk headers, no matter how the disks are attached.

I would certainly try out in advance what you want to do, and also consider NOT to venture into a stunt like this.
My case was an emergency and I had 2 backups of the data I was moving in this manner.

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Which thunderbolt enclosure were you using?

 

[Jonas Rejman]

g-tech 8TB

 

[Gunleik Groven]

Done it, moving the disks between several sata/macs/firewire/whatever enclosures.

No issues

 

[Elliott Balsley]

Jonas, that G-tech device has a hardware RAID 0 controller, right? So you're saying you moved the disks from that hardware RAID array into a software RAID with no issues? That is very surprising indeed. Typically hardware RAIDs require the same controller to work.

 

[Gunleik Groven]

I've changed from boxes/cards with controllers to other units, but the RAID itself has been software made, so I guess in there lays the difference.

If you have a RAID enclosure and change settings to JBOD, and then softwareRAID the disks, you should be fine.

OTOH I saw another RAID 0 from a hardware RAID enclosure that had gone bad just the other day, and THAT was irrecoverable...

Cheers!

G

 

[Jonas Rejman]

The G-tech seems to be presented to the system as a software RAID 0.
One can also configure it as 2 separate drives in DMG utility.
Therefore there were no issues when moving it from the case into the mac pro tower.

I agree, that this hint to NOT beeing a hardware raid 0.