Removing a RAID Device

To remove an existing RAID device, first deactivate it by running the following command as root:

mdadm --stop raid_device

Once deactivated, remove the RAID device itself:

mdadm --remove raid_device

Finally, zero superblocks on all devices that were associated with the particular array:

mdadm --zero-superblock component_device…

Example 5.5. Removing a RAID device

~]# mdadm --detail /dev/md3 | tail -n 4
    Number   Major   Minor   RaidDevice State
       0       8        1        0      active sync   /dev/sda1
       1       8       17        1      active sync   /dev/sdb1
       2       8       33        2      active sync   /dev/sdc1

In order to remove this device, first stop it by typing the following at a shell prompt:

~]# mdadm --stop /dev/md3
mdadm: stopped /dev/md3

Once stopped, you can remove the /dev/md3 device by running the following command:

~]# mdadm --remove /dev/md3

Finally, to remove the superblocks from all associated devices, type:

~]# mdadm --zero-superblock /dev/sda1 /dev/sdb1 /dev/sdc1