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Dedicated Servers and Bare Metal Servers: Using netboot.xyz to install Debian 13 and set up software RAID 1 and 5

This article guides you through installing Debian 13 via netboot.xyz, and configuring software RAID 1 and software RAID 5 on a Dedicated Server or Bare Metal Server. In this example, we will use the first two SSDs for a fail-safe system RAID 1. We will then explain how to set up a RAID 5 for the remaining 3 hard disks.

RAID 5 requires at least 3 hard drives and uses striping with distributed parity. It provides increased fault tolerance against the failure of a single drive through parity. Overall, RAID 5 offers a good price-to-performance ratio in terms of redundancy and storage optimization.

The capacity is calculated as follows: (Number of storage drives - 1) x Capacity

Caution

  • Creating a software RAID 5 requires advanced knowledge of Linux server administration. Follow the described sequence of steps exactly. Otherwise, you risk data loss!
  • This process will delete all existing data on the target hard drives.

Note

Creating and configuring the software RAID 5 is not covered by IONOS support. An overview of included services can be found on the following page: Scope of support for server products

Requirements

  • A Dedicated Server or Bare Metal Server with 2 SSDs and at least 3 unused hard drives of the same size.
  • You have noted down the sizes of the SSDs and hard drives.
  • There are no existing partitions on the hard drives.

Install 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, navigate to Infrastructure > Servers and click on the desired server.
  • Click 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 GNU/Linux as the installation method.
  • Select the Linux distribution Debian.
  • Select the version Debian 13 (trixie).
  • Select the option Graphical Based Install. The Configure the keyboard window opens, followed by the Configure the network window.
  • Click the Continue button. The message Please enter the hostname for this system will be displayed.
  • Enter the hostname for the operating system and press Enter. The Configure the network window with the Domain name: field will appear.
  • Optional: Enter the domain name if you have already created an A-record or AAAA-record pointing to the server's IP address. Otherwise, leave the field blank.
  • Click the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window opens.
  • Select a country and click the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window with the Debian archive mirror overview appears.
  • Select a mirror source and click the Continue button. The Choose a mirror of the Debian archive window with the HTTP proxy information (blank for none) field appears.
  • Click the Continue button. The Set up users and passwords window opens.
  • Enter your desired root password in the Root password field. Re-enter it in the Re-enter password to verify field and click the Continue button. The Set up users and passwords window continues.
  • Enter the name of the new user in the Full name of the new user field and press Enter.
  • Enter the desired username in the Username for your account field and press Enter.
  • Enter the desired password in the Choose a password for the new user field. Re-enter it in the Re-enter password to verify field and click the Continue button. The Configure the clock window opens.
  • Select your 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 opens, showing an overview of 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 Enter. The window with the option How to use this free space opens.
  • Select Create a new partition. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field opens.
  • Enter 1 GB as the size in the New partition size field and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Location for the new partition option opens.
  • Select Beginning and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition menu opens.
  • Select the entry EFI System Partition and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition and press Enter. The overview of currently configured devices, partitions, and mount points appears.
  • In this overview, select the 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 opens.
  • Repeat steps 2 through 7 for the second SSD. A 1 GB EFI partition must also be created on the second SSD.

Create RAID 1 for the operating system (SSD 1 & 2)

  • In the overview of devices and partitions, select the FREE SPACE under the entry for your first SSD (e.g., SCSI1 (0,0,0) (sda)) and press Enter. Make sure that the size of this free space roughly matches the total size of your SSD. The window with the option How to use this free space opens.
  • Select Create a new partition and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field opens.
  • Enter the maximum available size in the New partition size field and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • 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 opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The overview of currently configured devices, partitions, and mount points appears.
  • In the overview of devices and partitions, select the 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 this free space roughly matches the total size of your SSD. The Partition disks window with the option How to use this free space opens.
  • Repeat steps 2 through 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 to ensure the system remains redundantly bootable.

  • In the partition overview, select Configure software RAID and press Enter. The Partition disks window displays 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 appears.
  • 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 case, 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 appears.
  • Under Active devices for the RAID1 array, use the Spacebar to select both partitions on your SSDs (e.g., sda2 and sdb2) and click the Continue button. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions overview appears.

Please Note

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

  • In the Software RAID configuration actions overview window, select the option Finish and press Enter. The partition overview appears.

Define the root file system

  • In the partition overview, go to the item representing your RAID1 array (the two SSDs). This is typically listed as RAID1 device #0 or similar.
  • Select the indented entry directly beneath this RAID device and press Enter. The entry will display #1 along with the size of the RAID array 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 partition settings opens.
  • Select the Mount point: menu item and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition menu appears.
  • Under Mount point for this partition, select the root directory / and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview opens.

Create RAID 5 for data storage

  • Select each of your 3 (or more) hard drives one after another. The Partition disks window with the option How to use this free space opens.
  • Select Create a new partition. The Partition disks window with the New partition size field opens.
  • Enter the maximum available size and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • 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 partition settings opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview opens.
  • In the partition overview, select the option Configure software RAID and press Enter. The Partition disks window displays 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 appears.
  • Under Software RAID configuration actions, select the Create MD device menu item and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID device type overview appears.
  • Select RAID5 as the RAID type and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Number of active devices for the RAID5 array field appears.
  • In the Number of active devices for the RAID5 array field, enter the number of devices for the RAID 5. A minimum of 3 devices is required for a RAID 5. Press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Number of spare devices for the RAID5 array field appears.
  • In the Number of spare devices for the RAID5 array field, enter 0 and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Active devices for the RAID5 array overview appears.
  • Under Active devices for the RAID5 array, use the Spacebar to select the three partitions on your hard drives and click the Continue button. The Partition disks window with the Software RAID configuration actions menu appears.
  • Under Software RAID configuration actions, select Finish and press Enter. The overview showing the configured software RAIDs appears.

Define the mount point for RAID 5

  • In the partition overview, go to the item representing your RAID5 array. This is typically listed as RAID5 device #1 or similar.
  • Select the indented entry directly beneath this RAID device and press Enter. The entry will display #1 along with its size next to it. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • Select Use as: and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the How to use this partition menu appears.
  • 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 opens.
  • Select the Mount point: menu item and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition menu appears.
  • Select manually and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the Mount point for this partition field appears.
  • In the Mount point for this partition field, enter the mount point /data and press Enter. The Partition disks window with the partition settings opens.
  • Select Done setting up the partition. The partition overview appears.

Continue with the installation

  • In the partition overview, scroll down to the menu item Finish partitioning and write changes to disk and press Enter. The Partition disks window displays the following information: You have not selected any partitions for use as swap space.
  • Select the option No and press Enter. The Partition disks window displays the following query: Write the changes to disks?
  • Select Yes and press Enter. The operating system will be installed. The Configuring popularity-contest window will then appear.
  • To proceed with the installation, press Enter. The Software selection window appears.
  • Select your desired software packages and click the Continue button. The software will be installed. Once the installation is complete, the Finish the installation window appears.
  • To reboot the server, click the Continue button. The server will restart.

Install SSH server after

  • Open the Cloud Panel.
  • In the Cloud Panel, navigate to Infrastructure > Servers and click on the desired server.
  • Click 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 repositories, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# apt update

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

    root@debian:~# apt install openssh-server

  • To verify that the service is running, enter the following command:

    root@debian:~# systemctl status ssh

Check software RAID status and synchronize the EFI partition

Because Debian defaults to only utilizing the EFI partition that was active during the installation, it is best practice to copy the contents to the second EFI partition after booting.

  • Log in to the server via SSH as the administrator.

  • 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. Adapt the following command accordingly and execute 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. Adapt the following command accordingly and execute 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 recognize sdb as a valid bootable medium, you must register Debian in the boot menu for the second SSD. Adapt the following command accordingly and execute it. Make sure that the partition number (-p 1) corresponds to the actual number of the EFI partition:

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

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

    root@debian:~# efibootmgr -v

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