Drivers & Software

[prosupam]

I have finally managed to set up a Raidexpert2 based HDD raid 1 on a 5900X/B550. Windows 10 runs on a separate NVMe PCIe4.0 SSD. There were many issues and the overall experience was not pleasant. It is now running quite well, and I started to feel happy. 

While I was at this, with brand new system and no critical data yet on it, I decided to test what happens in case of problem. I faked a MB out of service and the need to move my disks to another system. Good idea to check this apparently because ... I simply could not succeed. 

As opposed to Intel RST raid solution it seems the AMD raidexpert2 raid 1 solution is QUITE proprietary. I could not find any documentation on what kind of stuff happens in an AMD simple RAID 1. Going the experimental way, I found that extracted AMD raid 1 disks cannot be read on simple AHCI configuration.  I also tried to connect the disk to a linux based nas : file system not recognized and on several other RAID system: file system not recognized, through a USB external HDD case : file system not recognized. In all cases, the sytems recognize the disk itself but nothing of what is in it.

Some recovery software seem to be able to overcome those issues. So far, I did not decide to pay the license fee and cannot confirm they would work all the way. While testing the free trial versions, I found that they mention some LINUX stuff (I am using windows and never had any linux installation around except in my NAS). So it would seem that AMD 4 B550 is using some linux file system stuff down below while window operates NTFS on top?!?!?!? What a confusing situation...

By comparison, extracted intel RST raid 1 single disk can be immediately read on any AHCI configuration and virtually anything...Intel is right : the whole purpose of simple RAID 1 is to make sure that the data is protected as much as can be. That should include disks that are easy to read individually in the most standard possible way in every sytem.

I am sure AMD sees it the same way. So there must be a procedure to read an AMD RAID 1 single disk when extracted from its original AMD RAIDEXPERT2 B550 system. I would be very grateful if someone could help me on this...

[prosupam]

So...does anyone know how to read an AMD raid 1 extracted from a B550 chipset? 

[prosupam]

So...does anyone know how to read a disk extracted from a B550 chipset raid 1? 

[Derp667]

Did you ever find a solution?  I, too, was shocked to discover that the disks generated in raidXpert2 are complete black boxes to any non AMD-RAID motherboard.  Largely defeats the purpose.

In testing, I find that windows software RAID outperforms it anyway (at least in simple mirror).  Of course, standard windows disk mirroring has its own problems, such as it gives NO WARNING if it loses redundancy due to loss of a drive.

[psh1]

 There is a workaround (Linux)
1. Install testdisk
sudo apt install testdisk
2. Discover path to your hdd
sudo fdisk -l
you'll see smth like this:

Disk /dev/sda: 5.46 TiB, 6001175126016 bytes, 11721045168 sectors
Disk model: Tech
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 4096 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 4096 bytes / 4096 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0xa36754d2

Device Boot Start End Sectors Size Id Type
/dev/sda1 63 3131110638 3131110576 1.5T 82 Linux swap / Solaris

Its a HDD from Raid 1, built with RaidXpert2 (mobo X370)

3. Run testdisk
sudo testdisk /dev/sda

You'll see smth like this:
Select a media (use Arrow keys, then press Enter):
>Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - JMicron Tech

Press enter

Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - JMicron Tech

Please select the partition table type, press Enter when done.
>[Intel ] Intel/PC partition
[EFI GPT] EFI GPT partition map (Mac i386, some x86_64...)
[Humax ] Humax partition table
[Mac ] Apple partition map (legacy)
[None ] Non partitioned media
[Sun ] Sun Solaris partition
[XBox ] XBox partition
[Return ] Return to disk selection

Select Intel/PC partition

Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - JMicron Tech
CHS 5723166 64 32 - sector size=512

>[ Analyse ] Analyse current partition structure and search for lost partitions
[ Advanced ] Filesystem Utils
[ Geometry ] Change disk geometry
[ Options ] Modify options
[ MBR Code ] Write TestDisk MBR code to first sector
[ Delete ] Delete all data in the partition table
[ Quit ] Return to disk selection

Select Analyse

You'll see smth like this:

Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - CHS 5723166 64 32
Current partition structure:
Partition Start End Size in sectors

1 P Linux Swap 0 1 32 1528862 39 15 3131110576
1 P Linux Swap 0 1 32 1528862 39 15 3131110576

Warning: Bad starting sector (CHS and LBA don't match)
No partition is bootable

OKay, lets search our NTFS partition
Select Quick search

Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - CHS 5723166 64 32

Warning: the current number of heads per cylinder is 64
but the correct value may be 128.
You can use the Geometry menu to change this value.
It's something to try if
- some partitions are not found by TestDisk
- or the partition table can not be written because partitions overlap.

Keep calm and JUST select CONTINUE
And...
Thats it!

Disk /dev/sda - 6001 GB / 5589 GiB - CHS 5723166 64 32
Partition Start End Size in sectors
>* HPFS - NTFS 538 0 1 5723133 63 32 11719876608 [DATA]

Here press P to list files. Then press c to copy directories & files to another HDD.