[NTLUG:Discuss] raid issue and reinstalling OS

[Fred James]

RH 7.1
2 HDs, each about 60 GB (+-), total 118.64 GB formatted.
2 mount points
"/" is almost 4 GB (/dev/hda1)
"/backups" is about 113 GB (/dev/md0)
plus swap (/dev/hda2).

So the bulk of the first HD, plus all of the second HD are mounted as 
/dev/md0, as some kind of RAID.

Problem - the OS was installed originally (by someone who is no longer 
here) without support for development, including no compiler, and adding 
new software (such as AMANDA) requires such support.
What is my best route?
Can I just reinstall the OS with the support options I need, retaining 
/backups unchanged, or will that lose the RAID setups?
Am I in a box where I am going to just have to flush out and load all 
the missing stuff? - some of it looked like I might have to recompile 
the Kernel, does that sound right?

I have never recompiled, let alone compiled, a kernel so it may be time 
to "wet my feet", but this is unfortunately a production box.  Any 
suggestions, insight, clues, etc., will be greatly appreciated.
Required details divulged to interested parties upon request, of course.

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