[gentoo-user] Raid 5 creation is slow - Can this be done quicker?

[J. Roeleveld]

Hi All,

I am currently installing a new server and am using Linux software raid to 
merge 6 * 1.5TB drives in a RAID5 configuration.

Creating the RAID5 takes over 20 hours (according to " cat /proc/mdstat ")

Is there a way that will speed this up? The drives are new, but contain random 
data left over from some speed and reliability tests I did. I don't care about 
keeping the current 'data', as long as when the array is reliable later.

Can I use the " --assume-clean " option with mdadm and then expect it to keep 
working, even through reboots?
Or is this a really bad idea?

Many thanks,

Joost Roeleveld