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Configure Storage

Set Up Multiple Drives with RAID

Install mdadm, create the tested RAID5 array, format it and mount it permanently before CasaOS is installed.

Guide difficulty⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Beginner Friendly
Estimated time⏱️ Several hours, mostly waitingEstimated for a first-time user.

This route is for the recommended four-drive build

  • All drives have already been detected and matched by serial number.
  • Nothing on the selected drives needs to be kept.
  • You understand RAID is resilience, not backup.

  1. Install mdadm

    sudo apt install mdadm -y

  2. Recheck every disk

    lsblk -o NAME,SIZE,TYPE,FSTYPE,MOUNTPOINTS,MODEL,SERIAL

  3. Clear old filesystem signatures

    DRAFT SAFETY CHECKPOINT: add the exact verified wipefs commands after the final device list is reviewed.

  4. Create the RAID5 array

    DRAFT SAFETY CHECKPOINT: the final mdadm command will use placeholders and a four-drive confirmation table.

  5. Monitor synchronisation

    watch cat /proc/mdstat

  6. Save the array definition

    DRAFT CHECKPOINT: verify the correct mdadm configuration path on the pinned Raspberry Pi OS release.

  7. Create an ext4 filesystem

    DRAFT SAFETY CHECKPOINT: format only the completed array device, never an individual member.

  8. Mount by UUID

    Create /storage/media/media, obtain the filesystem UUID and add a tested entry to /etc/fstab.

  9. Reboot and verify

    sudo reboot
# reconnect, then:
findmnt /storage/media/media
cat /proc/mdstat
IMAGE PLACEHOLDERComplete four-drive identification table showing bay, Linux name, model and serial before RAID creation.
Required image: Complete four-drive identification table showing bay, Linux name, model and serial before RAID creation.
IMAGE PLACEHOLDERRAID5 synchronisation complete with [UUUU] healthy status.
Required image: RAID5 synchronisation complete with [UUUU] healthy status.
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