I have a server with 2 x 36GB disks, with 4 logical drives (C,D,E F)
C: System Partition (FAT)
D: Boot Partition (NTFS)
E: Swap (NTFS)
F: Data (NTFS)
I want to add space to the D: drive.
So far I have change both drives to 72GB, on at a time, they all mirrored.
Can you use Diskpart to extend the D: drive (Boot Partition)
Print Screen of the logical drives
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No. With existing configuration you cannot.
First of all your system is installed in a weird way. The system files reside on C: but Windows boots from D: drive. See your picture.
Second, your new drives are not detected correctly. I recommend you backup all data and reconfigure your RAID. Then reinstall Windows 2003. This will be less painful.
You need to go into your RAID controller's configuration software and extend the logical drives -- IF your controller allows on-line capacity expansion. Depending on the capability of the controller, you may/may not be able to expand the logical drives in a non-contiguous manner ... which is what you need to do to achieve what you want.
If you can do that, you'll then see some unallocated space in the drive (or drives) that you expanded. THEN you can use DiskPart to extend the partition within that logical drive.
If your controller does not allow on-line capacity expansion, then the best way to achieve what you want here is to
(a) Image all 4 of your current partitions (to an external drive);
(b) delete your current RAID array; and
(c) recreate the array with the new 72GB drives.
While you could recreate it with 4 logical containers (as it is now); I'd suggest you simply create one large logical drive, and then simply restore the images to separate partitions within that drive. It will still "look" like 4 different drives to the system ... but any future reallocation of space will be much easier (and can be achieved with several 3rd party tools that allow resizing and moving of partitions).
SmartStart is simply the software you use to manage your RAID configuration -- the way yours is set up the RAID is enumerating 4 separate "containers" (drives) to the OS. That's okay -- but whether or not you can add space to an arbitrary container depends on what features SmartStart allows ... it has nothing to do with Windows tools (e.g. DiskPart).
IF you can extend the logical drives, THEN you can use DiskPart to use the additional space within that drive.
To clarify my earlier note (since BitsBytesandMore doesn't understand it) ... if you create a single container in your RAID array, it will look like one physical drive in Disk Management ==> but you can simply create 4 partitions so the OS will still see 4 different drives ... C:, D:, E:, and F: (or whatever letters you choose to assign)
The advantage to doing this instead of creating different containers (as you have now) is you can use more traditional tools to manage your partitions.
The disadvantage is that an MBR disk is limited to 4 partitions ... so you'll already have the maximum number of partitions on the drive (with your current structure, you could -- if you ever wanted to -- partition within the current "drives").
Yes, it is true that you cannot extend system partition with diskpart. If the drive is single (Not RAIDed) then it is connected as slave to working machine and DISKPART works smoothly on it.
But if you have RAID configuration then buy a tech license of Paragon Partition Manager 10 Server Edition and resize all of your servers with one product.
www.partition-manager.com
You can't extend the boot partition with DiskPart ... but you can easily extend any basic disk -- including the system partition -- with any of several 3rd party tools => I prefer Boot-It NG, which will do this easily PROVIDED there is available space on the "disk" that you're working with. IF your array manager will let you do an on-line capacity expansion so the logical drives are larger (i.e. the Disk Manager display needs to show "Unallocated Space" at the end of the drive ... as it does for drive E: in your current arrangement), then you can easily increase the sizes as needed.
As I noted earlier, it all depends on whether or not your array manager (SmartStart) will allow you to do on-line capacity expansion; and if so whether you can extend the size for all current containers, or only the last one (it may only support contiguous expansion).
Bottom line: If you can extend the container size so there is unallocated space shown in Disk Management for the drive that contains your D: partition, then you can easily expand it. If not, then you'll need to do as I noted earlier -- save all the current partitions; recreate a larger array (structured however you choose r.e. 4 containers or 1); and then restore the partitions.
It looks like the Array config let me extend the logical drive, but I have never done it, is it going to format the new space to NTFS and extend the Logical Drive 2 (which is my boot partition)??
See attachment
Array config
Clearly it allows you to dynamically resize the array. This almost certainly is an "online capacity expansion" .... meaning it will expand the size without any loss of data ==> but I would nevertheless be sure you have a current image of all your partitions before doing so. Backups are ALWAYS a good idea :-)
I extended it, and it show now as free space, now what is the best utility to use??
New D: drive
You can download the free demo of Boot-It here: http://www.terabyteunlimit
The free demo will do what you need, although it's well worth buying a copy of this very handy utility. To use it, just run MakeDisk to create a bootable floppy or CD; boot to Boot-It; select CANCEL at the first prompt; then OK. Then click on Partition Work, select the disk you need to modify [The disks will show as HD0, HD1, HD2, etc. on the left side of the partition work screen]; then highlight the partition you need to expand (in the center part of the display), and click on ReSize on the right and when prompted enter the new size. Once it finsihes, you're done. The resize operation will just take a few seconds.
Here's an example of what the partition work display will look like -- this system has 5 drives and is currently displaying the partitions on the first one (HD0).
Partition Work Screen
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by: BitsBytesandMorePosted on 2009-10-06 at 10:50:04ID: 25507737
As per the screenshot above you seem to have 4 physical hard drives.... not 2 36GB drives..... and 4 very small drives.....
Just a thought....I saw yesterday....in Compusa...a fast 7200RPM with 16MB buffer and 1 Terrabyte of drive space for $79......... wouldn't this be a good option instead of having 4 very small drives? Again....just a thought..