Hi guys,
I would like to ask your opinion about my theory, how to fix my broken LVM without risking any data loss.
I use Archlinux at home. I just love this distro, even it gives me a lots of work (particularly after system updates).
Basic system spec:
AMD FX(tm)-6100 Six-Core Processor
2x8GB Corsair DDR3
ASRock 970 Extreme3
3 x Seagate Constellation ES (SATA 6Gb/s) in sw RAID5, LVM on the top of the array
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue (SATA 6Gb/s) for System
1 x Western Digital Caviar Blue (SATA 6Gb/s) for media(music/films/etc.)
I use this machine for work and for fun. I run several VMs in Virtualbox 4.x and playing World of Warcraft sometimes.
My main storage is on the RAID5 array (/dev/md127p1). I have created one VolumeGroup here(vg00) which contains one LogicalVolume (storage). I have a lots of install media here. Also I have some rare Oracle install stuffs here too(9/10g DB/AS/Portal, patches,repca and other stuffs) which I don't want to lose. I need them to my work.
The problem:
After a full system update and reboot my little Archlinux was broken. I have fixed most of the problems, now I'm able to boot and my new Gnome3 is also working, however the system can't see the LogicalVolume.
[root@archmain ~]# lvscan
No volume groups found
[root@archmain ~]# pvscan
No matching physical volumes found
[root@archmain ~]# fdisk -l
.....
Disk /dev/md127: 1.8 TiB, 2000138797056 bytes, 3906521088 sectors
Units: sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 262144 bytes / 524288 bytes
Disklabel type: dos
Disk identifier: 0x9c780907
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/md127p1 2048 3906521087 1953259520 8e Linux LVM
The theory:
After installing one extra hdd ( 3TB WD ) I will be able to clone all the bits of the RAID5 array, which contains(?) the LVM metadata too using dd. Hacking a little the lvm backup file (change the pv device name and id from /dev/md127p1 to the new disk, /dev/sdf1 or something) I may will be able to restore the VolumeGroup's metadata on the 3TB WD hdd. So if I scr*w things up during the restore process, I wont purge all my datas on the original RAID/LVM.
Do you think, this can work?
Thanks,
Peter.-