Modification of Dell PowerEdge After Server OS has been installed
I need to add a second drive and create a hardware Raid 1 Array on a Dell PowerEdge T110 which presently has in one Drive.
Can this be done without reinstalling the OS.
Addiitonally I need to resize the partitions on the existing drive as the person who set it up made the primary partition to small.
Grateful for any assistance which you can offer.
Can this be done without reinstalling the OS.
Addiitonally I need to resize the partitions on the existing drive as the person who set it up made the primary partition to small.
Grateful for any assistance which you can offer.
Mohammed Khawaja
No, it cannot be done. RAID is created prior to data being present.
ASKER
I thought so. So I will have to try to do a Software raid solution.
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ASKER
From all appearances this was a budget server so I doubt it will have anything other than the standard controller.
I am not totally clear on what you are saying about the RAID 0 to RAID 1. Any reference material on this.
I am not totally clear on what you are saying about the RAID 0 to RAID 1. Any reference material on this.
"the standard controller"
There is no "standard" controller. The T110 I/II are budget machines, but they can be configured with budget RAID controllers. You would have:
- onboard/chipset controller (drive(s) connected directly to the motherboard)
- add-in card (could be one of about 6 different controllers, depending on your server model)
The PERC controllers have the ability to convert a RAID array into an array of a different type by adding disks to the configuration - for example, you can convert a 1-disk RAID 0 to a 2-disk RAID 0 or a 2-disk RAID 1; you can convert a 2-disk RAID 1 to a 3-disk RAID 5; you can convert a 3-disk RAID 5 to a 5-disk RAID 5; you can convert a 4-disk RAID 5 to a 5-disk RAID 6; etc.
But, because creating a RAID array overwrites the data on the disk, you cannot convert a non-RAID "volume" (single non-RAID disk connected to controller) to a RAID 1 by adding a disk, because by doing so, the first disks information will be overwritten (cannot convert non-RAID to RAID).
So, if you have an H310 with a single disk as a non-RAID volume, you cannot add a disk and convert to a hardware RAID 1 - you would have to backup your data, delete the volume, configure RAID 1 with two disks, then restore your data. If you have an H310 with a single disk set up as a RAID 0, then you CAN add a disk and convert it to RAID 1.
However, you would have to have a T110 II for any possibility of having an H310 installed.
For future reference, check page 204:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_electronics/esuprt_software/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt/dell-opnmang-srvr-admin-v7.2_User's%20Guide2_en-us.pdf
There is no "standard" controller. The T110 I/II are budget machines, but they can be configured with budget RAID controllers. You would have:
- onboard/chipset controller (drive(s) connected directly to the motherboard)
- add-in card (could be one of about 6 different controllers, depending on your server model)
The PERC controllers have the ability to convert a RAID array into an array of a different type by adding disks to the configuration - for example, you can convert a 1-disk RAID 0 to a 2-disk RAID 0 or a 2-disk RAID 1; you can convert a 2-disk RAID 1 to a 3-disk RAID 5; you can convert a 3-disk RAID 5 to a 5-disk RAID 5; you can convert a 4-disk RAID 5 to a 5-disk RAID 6; etc.
But, because creating a RAID array overwrites the data on the disk, you cannot convert a non-RAID "volume" (single non-RAID disk connected to controller) to a RAID 1 by adding a disk, because by doing so, the first disks information will be overwritten (cannot convert non-RAID to RAID).
So, if you have an H310 with a single disk as a non-RAID volume, you cannot add a disk and convert to a hardware RAID 1 - you would have to backup your data, delete the volume, configure RAID 1 with two disks, then restore your data. If you have an H310 with a single disk set up as a RAID 0, then you CAN add a disk and convert it to RAID 1.
However, you would have to have a T110 II for any possibility of having an H310 installed.
For future reference, check page 204:
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_electronics/esuprt_software/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt/dell-opnmang-srvr-admin-v7.2_User's%20Guide2_en-us.pdf
ASKER
Understand.
By standard I meant the one it came with.
Grateful for your assistance.
By standard I meant the one it came with.
Grateful for your assistance.
ASKER
Very comprehensive