Thanks for the info, I have been really stressing about this.

that the problem I have with linux RAID, basic operation require you to read or document an range of obscure commands.

Even software RAID bios (like SI or Intel) have dead simple interfaces running. (how about some kernel modules to work with onboard "fake" RAID.)

If Linux want larger acceptance, they really need to make sysadmins lives easier, not harder. There is so much room for error in those commands, I would never dare attempting it with drives containing company data

If a hard drive failed on one of my windows boxes, or on a linux box with hardware RAID, I would yank the broken drive, stick in the new one and hit the rebuild button, its really that simple.

Until they can make it even close to that simple, I will stick with hardware RAID for linux boxes. At least they took the time to make the sysadmin's life easier.