I tried to install a RAID5 array using both vinum and gvinum under 5.3-RELEASE and couldn't get a reliable system running. I reinstalled using 4.11-STABLE and so far the system (and vinum) have been error-free. The 5.4-RELEASE documentation only mentions that "geom_vinum" provides a GEOM compatible replacement for vinum. I've seen contradictory messages on this mailing list and the geom mailing list about whether 5.4-RELEASE's "gvinum" provides a stable RAID5 solution. Hardware is a Supermicro P4DC6+, dual 1.7Ghz Xeon, 512MB RAMBUS, boot device is a RAID1 array using an Adaptec 2005 in the RAID adapter slot, 8 Seagate 43GB SCSI disks attached to a Compaq/Adaptec 39160 controller using vinum. I don't want to use the on-board controller for the RAID5 array since I believe the cabling will be problematical with two external SCSI towers plus the long run from the SCSI port to the back of the case. I tried installing 5.3_RELEASE/RAID5 several times using both vinum and gvinum; I also tried installing and then upgrading to 5.3-STABLE in the hopes that a bugfix had appeared. I had gvinum working for almost a day before the system crashed under heavy load; since this is a hobby and not my employment I decided to back off to 4.11 and try again. I do have an alternative - a DPT SmartRAID V - but vinum has been so reliable under 4.x that I'd like to continue with it, if possible. Mike Squires