add raid creation, improve ux

README.md

@@ -1,9 +1,10 @@
 # pseudodisk
 
-A comprehensive toolkit for creating disk images with various filesystems for forensic analysis practice and education.
+A comprehensive toolkit for creating disk images with various filesystems and RAID arrays for forensic analysis practice and education.
 
 ## Features
 
+### Disk Image Creator (`pseudodisk.sh`)
 - **Multiple Filesystem Support**: NTFS, FAT32, exFAT, ext2/3/4, XFS, HFS+, swap
 - **Preset Layouts**: Pre-configured layouts for Windows, Linux, and macOS systems
 - **Multi-Partition Support**: Create up to 4 partitions in a single disk image
@@ -14,6 +15,15 @@ A comprehensive toolkit for creating disk images with various filesystems for fo
 - **Filesystem Availability Check**: Verifies required tools before operation
 - **Forensic-Ready**: Pre-configured for hex editor and forensic tool analysis
 
+### Universal RAID Creator (`raid_creator.sh`)
+- **Three Implementation Modes**: mdadm (production), manual (educational), hybrid (both)
+- **Complete RAID Support**: RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, and 10
+- **Advanced Configuration**: Custom stripe directions, algorithms, and parity layouts
+- **Minimal Dependencies**: Works with or without mdadm
+- **Educational Value**: Shows internal RAID mechanics
+- **Forensic Practice**: Creates realistic RAID arrays for analysis
+- **Comprehensive Documentation**: Extensive guides included
+
 ## Prerequisites
 
 ### Required Packages
@@ -211,6 +221,31 @@ sudo ./cleanup.sh
 # Type 'all' when prompted
 ```
 
+## Creating RAID Arrays
+
+### Universal RAID Creator
+
+The universal RAID creator combines production-quality mdadm arrays with educational manual implementations:
+
+```bash
+sudo ./raid_creator.sh
+```
+
+**Three Modes:**
+1. **mdadm (Production)** - Real RAID with metadata, mountable immediately
+2. **Manual (Educational)** - Raw striping showing internal mechanics
+3. **Hybrid** - Manual layout + mdadm metadata for comprehensive learning
+
+**Supported RAID Levels:** 0, 1, 4, 5, 6, 10
+
+**Advanced Options:**
+- Custom stripe directions (forward, backward, inside-out, outside-in)
+- Stripe algorithms (standard, delayed, interleaved, random)
+- Multiple parity layouts
+- Configurable chunk sizes
+- Hot spare support (mdadm mode)
+
+
 ## Forensic Analysis Guide
 
 ### Basic Hex Analysis
@@ -230,6 +265,23 @@ xxd -l 512 win11.dd
 xxd -s 0x1BE -l 64 win11.dd
 ```
 
+### RAID Array Analysis
+
+```bash
+# View stripe patterns across disks
+for i in {0..3}; do
+    echo "=== Disk $i ==="
+    dd if=raid_disk_${i}.dd bs=64k count=1 2>/dev/null | xxd | head -5
+done
+
+# Examine RAID metadata (if present)
+sudo mdadm --examine raid_disk_0.dd
+
+# Reassemble and mount
+sudo mdadm --assemble --scan
+sudo mount /dev/md0 /mnt/raid
+```
+
 #### GUI Hex Editors
 ```bash
 # Install Bless (GTK hex editor)

cleanup.sh

@@ -250,7 +250,8 @@ auto_cleanup() {
     done <<< "$devices"
 
     echo ""
-    read -p "Clean up all $count device(s)? (yes/no): " confirm
+    read -p "Clean up all $count device(s)? (yes/no, default: no): " confirm
+    confirm=${confirm:-no}
 
     if [ "$confirm" != "yes" ]; then
         print_info "Cancelled"
@@ -350,7 +351,8 @@ interactive_cleanup() {
     echo "  [q] Quit"
     echo ""
 
-    read -p "Enter selection: " selection
+    read -p "Enter selection (default: q): " selection
+    selection=${selection:-q}
 
     if [ "$selection" = "q" ]; then
         print_info "Cancelled"
@@ -404,7 +406,8 @@ main() {
     echo "  3) Enter filename manually"
     echo "  4) Quit"
     echo ""
-    read -p "Select option [1-4]: " option
+    read -p "Select option [1-4, default: 4]: " option
+    option=${option:-4}
     
     echo ""
     

pseudodisk.sh

@@ -227,7 +227,8 @@ validate_fs_size() {
     
     if [ -n "$max" ] && [ "$size" -gt "$max" ]; then
         print_warning "Partition size ${size}MB exceeds recommended maximum for $fs (${max}MB)"
-        read -p "Continue anyway? (y/n): " continue
+        read -p "Continue anyway? (y/n, default: n): " continue
+        continue=${continue:-n}
         if [ "$continue" != "y" ]; then
             return 1
         fi
@@ -309,7 +310,8 @@ get_filename() {
     # Check if file exists
     if [ -f "$FILENAME" ]; then
         print_warning "File already exists: $FILENAME"
-        read -p "Overwrite? (y/n): " OVERWRITE
+        read -p "Overwrite? (y/n, default: n): " OVERWRITE
+        OVERWRITE=${OVERWRITE:-n}
         if [ "$OVERWRITE" != "y" ]; then
             print_info "Please choose a different filename"
             get_filename
@@ -329,7 +331,8 @@ get_disk_size() {
     echo "  5) 10 GB    (very large)"
     echo "  6) Custom size"
     echo ""
-    read -p "Select disk size [1-6]: " SIZE_CHOICE
+    read -p "Select disk size [1-6, default: 3]: " SIZE_CHOICE
+    SIZE_CHOICE=${SIZE_CHOICE:-3}
 
     case $SIZE_CHOICE in
         1) DISK_SIZE_MB=100 ;;
@@ -392,7 +395,8 @@ get_init_method() {
     echo ""
     print_tip "For forensic practice, /dev/zero (option 1) is recommended"
     echo ""
-    read -p "Select initialization method [1-3]: " INIT_CHOICE
+    read -p "Select initialization method [1-3, default: 1]: " INIT_CHOICE
+    INIT_CHOICE=${INIT_CHOICE:-1}
     
     case $INIT_CHOICE in
         1) INIT_METHOD="zero" ;;
@@ -448,7 +452,8 @@ get_preset_or_custom() {
     echo "  Custom:"
     echo "    13) Custom layout (manual configuration)"
     echo ""
-    read -p "Select layout [1-13]: " PRESET_CHOICE
+    read -p "Select layout [1-13, default: 1]: " PRESET_CHOICE
+    PRESET_CHOICE=${PRESET_CHOICE:-1}
     
     case $PRESET_CHOICE in
         1)  # Windows 11/10
@@ -639,7 +644,8 @@ get_partition_scheme() {
     echo ""
     print_tip "GPT is recommended for modern systems and disks >2TB"
     echo ""
-    read -p "Select partition scheme [1-2]: " PARTITION_CHOICE_SCHEME
+    read -p "Select partition scheme [1-2, default: 1]: " PARTITION_CHOICE_SCHEME
+    PARTITION_CHOICE_SCHEME=${PARTITION_CHOICE_SCHEME:-1}
     
     case $PARTITION_CHOICE_SCHEME in
         1) PARTITION_SCHEME="gpt" ;;
@@ -665,7 +671,8 @@ get_partition_scheme() {
 # Get number of partitions
 get_partition_count() {
     echo ""
-    read -p "How many partitions? (1-4): " PARTITION_COUNT
+    read -p "How many partitions? (1-4, default: 1): " PARTITION_COUNT
+    PARTITION_COUNT=${PARTITION_COUNT:-1}
     
     if ! [[ "$PARTITION_COUNT" =~ ^[1-4]$ ]]; then
         print_error "Invalid number. Must be between 1 and 4"
@@ -712,7 +719,8 @@ get_partition_configs() {
         echo "  11) swap    (Linux swap space)"
         echo "  12) unallocated (Empty space - for forensic practice)"
         echo ""
-        read -p "Select filesystem for partition $i [1-12]: " FS_CHOICE
+        read -p "Select filesystem for partition $i [1-12, default: 8]: " FS_CHOICE
+        FS_CHOICE=${FS_CHOICE:-8}
         
         case $FS_CHOICE in
             1) 
@@ -1365,7 +1373,8 @@ cleanup() {
 # Mount filesystems
 mount_filesystems() {
     echo ""
-    read -p "Do you want to mount the filesystem(s) now? (y/n): " MOUNT_NOW
+    read -p "Do you want to mount the filesystem(s) now? (y/n, default: n): " MOUNT_NOW
+    MOUNT_NOW=${MOUNT_NOW:-n}
     
     if [ "$MOUNT_NOW" = "y" ]; then
         local part_num=1
@@ -1583,7 +1592,8 @@ main() {
     done
     
     echo ""
-    read -p "Proceed with creation? (y/n): " CONFIRM
+    read -p "Proceed with creation? (y/n, default: y): " CONFIRM
+    CONFIRM=${CONFIRM:-y}
     
     if [ "$CONFIRM" != "y" ]; then
         print_info "Operation cancelled"
@@ -1598,6 +1608,50 @@ main() {
     mount_filesystems
     
     show_summary
+    
+    # Ask if user wants to create a RAID array from the created image
+    ask_create_raid
+}
+
+# Ask if user wants to create RAID array from the created image
+ask_create_raid() {
+    echo ""
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo "  RAID Array Creation"
+    echo "=========================================="
+    echo ""
+    read -p "Create a RAID array from this image? (y/n, default: n): " create_raid
+    create_raid=${create_raid:-n}
+    
+    if [ "$create_raid" = "y" ]; then
+        print_info "Preparing to create RAID array..."
+        
+        # Check if raid_creator.sh exists
+        SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+        RAID_CREATOR="$SCRIPT_DIR/raid_creator.sh"
+        
+        if [ ! -f "$RAID_CREATOR" ]; then
+            print_error "raid_creator.sh not found in $SCRIPT_DIR"
+            print_info "Please ensure raid_creator.sh is in the same directory"
+            return 1
+        fi
+        
+        if [ ! -x "$RAID_CREATOR" ]; then
+            print_warning "raid_creator.sh is not executable, attempting to make it executable..."
+            chmod +x "$RAID_CREATOR" || {
+                print_error "Failed to make raid_creator.sh executable"
+                return 1
+            }
+        fi
+        
+        print_success "Launching RAID creator with image: $FILENAME"
+        echo ""
+        
+        # Execute raid_creator.sh with the created image as parameter
+        "$RAID_CREATOR" "$FILENAME"
+    else
+        print_info "Skipping RAID array creation"
+    fi
 }
 
 # Run main function