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Dedicated Servers and Bare Metal Servers: Using netboot.xyz to install Debian 13 and set up Software RAID 1 and 6

In this guide, you will learn how to set up a Software RAID 1 and an additional Software RAID 6 during a fresh installation of Debian 13 via netboot.xyz on a Dedicated Server or Bare Metal Server. In this example, we use the first two SSDs for a fail-safe system RAID 1. Then, we explain how to set up a RAID 6 for the remaining four hard drives.

RAID 6 requires at least 4 hard drives. It uses block-level striping with double parity. The major advantage over RAID 5 is the increased fault tolerance: the system remains operational even if two hard drives fail simultaneously.

The capacity is calculated as follows: (Number of storage drives - 2) x Capacity

Caution

  • Creating a software RAID 6 requires advanced knowledge of Linux server administration. Follow the described sequence of steps exactly. Otherwise, data loss may occur!
  • This process will delete all existing data on the target hard drives.

Note

The creation and configuration of software RAID 6 is not included in the scope of support. You can find an overview of the services included on the following page: Scope of support for server products

Requirements

  • A Dedicated Server or Bare Metal Server with 2 SSDs and at least 4 unused hard drives of the same size.
  • You have noted down the sizes of the SSDs and hard drives.
  • There are no partitions on the hard drives.

Install the operating system via netboot.xyz

  • Log in to your IONOS account.

  • Click on Menu > Servers & Cloud in the title bar. 
    Optional: If you have multiple server contracts, select the desired contract.

  • In the Cloud Panel, click on Infrastructure > Servers and select the desired server.
  • Click on the Console button. To establish a connection with the VNC console, select VNC Console. The VNC console will open in a new tab, and the connection to the server will be established. This may take a moment.
  • Select the option Continue with Self installation Here. The menu will load.
  • In the Distributions section, select the installation method GNU/Linux.
  • Select the Linux distribution Debian.
  • Select the version Debian 13 (trixie).
  • Select the option Graphical Based Install. The Configure the network window opens.
  • Select your server's correct primary network interface and press Enter. Usually, it is the first one listed.
  • Enter the hostname for the operating system and press Enter. The Configure the network window with the Domain name: field will be displayed.
  • Optional: Enter the domain if you have already created an A record or an AAAA record that points to the server's IP address. Otherwise, leave the field blank.
  • Click the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window will be displayed.
  • Select a country and press the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window with the Debian archive mirror overview will be displayed.
  • Select a source and press the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window with the HTTP proxy information (blank for none) field will be displayed.
  • Click the Continue button. The Set up users and passwords window will be displayed.
  • In the Root password field, enter your desired root password. Repeat it in the Re-enter password to verify field and click the Continue button. The Set up users and passwords window will be displayed.
  • In the Full name of the new user field, enter the name of the new user and press Enter. The Set up users and passwords window will be displayed.
  • Enter the desired username in the Username for your account field and press Enter.
  • In the Choose a password for the new user field, enter the desired password. Repeat it in the Re-enter password to verify field and click the Continue button. The Configure the clock window will be displayed.
  • Select the desired time zone and press Enter. The Partitioning method option in the Partition disks window will be displayed.
  • Select Manual and press Enter. The Partition disks window will be displayed. This window shows an overview of the currently configured devices, partitions, and mount points.

Create the EFI partition on the first and second SSDs

  • In the overview of devices and partitions, select the FREE SPACE (or Free Space) under the entry for your first SSD (e.g., SCSI1 (0,0,0) (sda)) and press the Enter key. The window with the option How to use this free space will be displayed.
  • Select Create a new partition. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field will be displayed.
  • Enter 1 GB as the size in the New partition size field and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the option Location for the new partition will be displayed.
  • Select Beginning and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition menu will be displayed.
  • Select the entry EFI System Partition and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Done setting up the partition and press Enter. The overview of the currently configured devices, partitions, and mount points will be displayed.
  • In this overview, select the FREE SPACE (or Free Space) under the entry for your second SSD (e.g., SCSI2 (0,0,0) (sdb)) and press Enter. The window with the option How to use this free space will be displayed.
  • Repeat steps 2 – 7 for the second SSD. A 1 GB EFI partition must also be created on the second SSD.

Set up RAID 1 for the operating system (SSD 1 & 2)

  • In the overview of devices and partitions, select the FREE SPACE (or Free Space) under the entry for your first SSD (e.g., SCSI1 (0,0,0) (sda)) and press the Enter key. Make sure that the size of the free space almost matches the total size of your SSD. The window with the option How to use this free space will be displayed.
  • Select Create a new partition and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field will be displayed.
  • Enter the maximum size in the New partition size field and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition overview opens.
  • Select physical volume for RAID and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The overview of the currently configured devices, partitions, and mount points will be displayed.
  • In the overview of devices and partitions, select the FREE SPACE (or Free Space) under the entry for your second SSD (e.g., SCSI2 (0,0,0) (sdb)) and press Enter. Make sure that the size of the free space almost matches the total size of your SSD. The Partition disks window with the option How to use this free space will be displayed.
  • Repeat steps 2 – 6 for the second SSD to create a physical volume for RAID there as well.

Please Note

A 1 GB EFI partition and a RAID partition must be created on both the first and second SSDs so that the system can boot redundantly.

  • In the partition overview, select Configure software RAID and press the Enter key. The Partition disks window will display the following message: Write the changes to the storage devices and configure RAID?
  • Select Yes and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions overview will be displayed.
  • Under Software RAID configuration actions, select the option Create MD device and press Enter.
  • Select RAID1 as the RAID type and press Enter.
  • In the Number of active devices for the RAID1 array field, enter the number of devices for the RAID 1. In this example, it is 2 devices. Press Enter.
  • In the Number of spare devices for the RAID1 array field, enter 0 and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Active devices for the RAID1 array overview will be displayed.
  • Under Active devices for the RAID1 array, select both partitions on your SSDs (e.g., sda2 and sdb2) using the Spacebar, and then click the Continue button. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions overview will be displayed.

Please Note

Do not select the EFI partitions (sda1/sdb1) here!

  • In the window showing the Software RAID configuration actions overview, select the option Finish and press Enter. The partition overview will be displayed.

Define the root filesystem

  • In the partition overview, go to the item representing your RAID1 (the two SSDs). This is usually listed as RAID1 device #0 or similar.
  • Select the entry directly under this RAID device and press the Enter key. This entry is indented, and it says #1 along with the size of the RAID next to it.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition overview opens.
  • Under How to use this partition, select a file system, e.g., XFS journaling file system, and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition overview opens.
  • Select the Mount point: menu item and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition menu will be displayed.
  • Under Mount point for this partition:, select the root directory / and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview will open.

Create RAID 6 for data storage

  • Select each of the 4 (or more) hard drives one after the other. The Partition disks window with the option How to use this free space will be displayed.
  • Select Create a new partition. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field will be displayed.
  • Enter the maximum size and press the Enter key. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition overview opens.
  • Select physical volume for RAID. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition overview opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview will open.
  • In the partition overview, select the option Configure software RAID and press Enter. The Partition disks window will display the following message: Write the changes to the storage devices and configure RAID?
  • Select Yes and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions overview will be displayed.
  • Under Software RAID configuration actions, select the menu item Create MD device and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID device type overview will be displayed.
  • Select RAID6 as the RAID type and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Number of active devices for the RAID6 array field will be displayed.
  • In the Number of active devices for the RAID6 array field, enter the number of devices for the RAID 6. A minimum of 4 devices is required for a RAID 6. Press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Number of spare devices for the RAID6 array field will be displayed.
  • In the Number of spare devices for the RAID6 array field, enter 0 and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Active devices for the RAID6 array overview will be displayed.
  • Under Active devices for the RAID6 array, select the 4 partitions on your hard drives using the Spacebar and click the Continue button. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions menu will be displayed.
  • Under Software RAID configuration actions, select Finish and press Enter. The overview showing the configured software RAIDs will be displayed.

Define the mount point for RAID 6

  • In the partition overview, go to the item representing your RAID 6. This is usually listed as RAID6 device #1 or similar.
  • Select the entry directly under this RAID device and press the Enter key. This entry is indented, and it says #1 along with the size next to it. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition menu will be displayed.
  • Under How to use this partition, select a file system, e.g., XFS journaling file system, and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select the Mount point: menu item and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition menu will be displayed.
  • Select manually and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition field will be displayed.
  • In the Mount point for this partition field, enter the mount point /data and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings will be displayed.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview will be displayed.

Continue with the installation

  • Scroll down the partition overview to the menu item Finish partitioning and write changes to disk and press the Enter key. The Profile configuration window will be displayed. The Partition disks window with the following information will be displayed: You have not selected any partitions for use as swap space.
  • Select the option No and press Enter. The Partition disks window will display the following prompt: Write the changes to disks?
  • Select Yes and press Enter. The operating system will be installed.
  • The Configuring popularity-contest window will be displayed. To continue with the installation, press Enter. The Software selection window will be displayed.
  • Select the desired software and click the Continue button. The software will be installed. Once the installation is finished, the Finish the installation window will be displayed.
  • To restart the server, click the Continue button.

Install the SSH server next

  • Open the Cloud Panel.
  • Under Infrastructure > Servers, click on the desired server.
  • Click on the Console button. To establish a connection with the VNC console, select VNC Console. The VNC console will open in a new tab, and the connection to the server will be established. This may take a moment.
  • Log in via the VNC console.

  • To update the package sources, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# apt update

  • To install the OpenSSH server, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# apt install openssh-server

  • To ensure that the service has started, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# systemctl status ssh

Check software RAID status and synchronise the EFI partition

Because Debian only uses the EFI partition that was active during the installation by default, it is best practice to copy it to the second EFI partition after booting.

  • Log in to the server via SSH as an administrator (root).

  • To check the status of the software RAIDs, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# cat /proc/mdstat

  • To check the available disk space, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# df -h

  • Ensure that the partition on the second SSD (e.g., sdb1) has a FAT32 file system. Adjust the following command accordingly and run it:

    root@debian:~# mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/PARTITION

    Example:

    root@debian:~# mkfs.vfat -F 32 /dev/sdb1

  • To create a temporary mount point, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# mkdir /mnt/efi_temp

  • Mount the second partition. Adjust the following command accordingly and run it:

    root@debian:~# mount /dev/PARTITION /mnt/efi_temp

    Example:

    root@debian:~# mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt/efi_temp

  • Copy the contents of the active EFI partition to the mounted second partition:

    root@debian:~# cp -ax /boot/efi/. /mnt/efi_temp/

  • Unmount the second partition:

    root@debian:~# umount /mnt/efi_temp

  • For UEFI to recognise sdb as a valid boot medium, you must register Debian in the boot menu for the second SSD. Adjust the following command accordingly and run it:

    root@debian:~# efibootmgr -c -d /dev/PARTITION -p 1 -L "Debian Backup (PARTITION)" -l "\EFI\debian\grubx64.efi"

    Example:

    root@debian:~# efibootmgr -c -d /dev/sdb -p 1 -L "Debian Backup (sdb)" -l "\EFI\debian\grubx64.efi"

  • To ensure that the bootloader code remains up to date on both SSDs, run the following command:

    root@debian:~# dpkg-reconfigure grub-efi-amd64

Note

During the interactive dialog, you will be asked which devices GRUB should be installed on. Use the Spacebar to select both /dev/sda and /dev/sdb.

  • You can verify that two boot entries are now present in the UEFI using the following command:

    root@debian:~# efibootmgr -v

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