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RESIZE WINDOWS 2003 PARTITIONS
I have a customer that has a new Dell Power Edge server running windows 2003 active directory. Ihave installed the progs on the server, their old database from the old server, mapped drives, installed the new network printer. Then I went to install the tape drive backup software to find that the " C " drive is almost full. Dell has made the boot partition ( the partition with \\windows ) 12 gig and mad a second partition 220 gig and empty. I know that documents and settings can be redirected from the workstation to a server, can programs be redirected to the "D" drive. There seems to be 3 main scenarios that I can see.
1. remove the database to the " D" drive, uninstall not needed programs. This would free up 3-5 gig on the " C " drive. Although I could install the tape program w/o getting errors, it would not leave room for futre expansion.
2. Use a program like volume manager to shrink / expand partitions..or merge partitions. I have ver 2.0, supposed to be for win 2000 sever. Will ver 2 power quest vol manager work on win 2003...the server also has a sata raid pci card.
3. do a wipe and reload of the OS....Kind of in favor of this
are ther amy other choices ...or ideas...or progs that I can manipulate thr partitions on win 2003
1. remove the database to the " D" drive, uninstall not needed programs. This would free up 3-5 gig on the " C " drive. Although I could install the tape program w/o getting errors, it would not leave room for futre expansion.
2. Use a program like volume manager to shrink / expand partitions..or merge partitions. I have ver 2.0, supposed to be for win 2000 sever. Will ver 2 power quest vol manager work on win 2003...the server also has a sata raid pci card.
3. do a wipe and reload of the OS....Kind of in favor of this
are ther amy other choices ...or ideas...or progs that I can manipulate thr partitions on win 2003
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This would free up 3-5 gig on the " C " drive....
What is the rest of the space being used for?
OS, applications (assuming mail, SQL, proxy) would take about 4GB.
Size of page file would depend on amount of memory (1.5 x Physical memory)
VolumeManager 2.0 does not support Windows Server 2003.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/powerquest.nsf/a5364350e230d8d888256e97004b8ff6/b911ced3e3e2ddf188256e75007cc527?OpenDocument&prod=VolumeManager&ver=2.0&src=ent&pcode=volman&dtype=corp&svy=&prev=&miniver=volman_2
Acronis Disk Director Server 10.0
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirector/
Will do the job
What is the rest of the space being used for?
OS, applications (assuming mail, SQL, proxy) would take about 4GB.
Size of page file would depend on amount of memory (1.5 x Physical memory)
VolumeManager 2.0 does not support Windows Server 2003.
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/powerquest.nsf/a5364350e230d8d888256e97004b8ff6/b911ced3e3e2ddf188256e75007cc527?OpenDocument&prod=VolumeManager&ver=2.0&src=ent&pcode=volman&dtype=corp&svy=&prev=&miniver=volman_2
Acronis Disk Director Server 10.0
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirector/
Will do the job
ASKER
leew I know that 12gig is alot , it is just a shame that Dell did not make the partition larger than 12gig. The database is only 700 mb in size, with maybe a Quickbooks back up also...I thought about the page file move and was wondering why Dell did not put the page file on "D " when they set the server up. I do not know how much ram they have in the server so , so the page file should be 1.5 times the size of the ram. I did not look to intently at what Dell had installed , had other onsites to do across town. This guy really does not need this server, it was replacing PEER " file " server that had a share with their "database " that all the workstations were mapped to. I digress,,, I think most of the progs can be uninstalled, they will never need them.
Garycase I think you are wrong about the image size. 1) I use ghost and I can clone a Higher capacity HD drive to a lower as long as the lower capacity is greater then the actuall size of the data on the higher capacity drive ( 20 Gig with 5 gig of data clone to a 10 gig ) 2) I did an image file of my shop pc with ghost . The HD was a 20 gig, it only took 3 CDs. It was basically just a new installation of win 2000 , with office and a few other progs, using the full size of the HD.
Garycase I think you are wrong about the image size. 1) I use ghost and I can clone a Higher capacity HD drive to a lower as long as the lower capacity is greater then the actuall size of the data on the higher capacity drive ( 20 Gig with 5 gig of data clone to a 10 gig ) 2) I did an image file of my shop pc with ghost . The HD was a 20 gig, it only took 3 CDs. It was basically just a new installation of win 2000 , with office and a few other progs, using the full size of the HD.
ASKER
Nyaema Did you see a price for the Acronis Disk dir
ASKER
Does win 2003 have a built in back up program ?
Sorry did not see the price...
Check this list compiled by the Crazy one
You may want to consider these. I think most cost a little less than PM and one called Partition Manager says it works with Win2003
Partition Manager
http://www.partition-manager.com/n_pm_main.htm
Partition Manager from Paragon provides easy and safe partitioning functions to even non-professional users.
With Partition Manager you can reclaim wasted disk space, organize your data, add new operating systems, speed up file system performance.
In the past, partition modification was risky and time-consuming task. Users had to backup all files, create new partitions, format them, may be reinstall operating system, and restore data. With Partition Manager you just select what partition modification should be done. All will be done automatically without data loss.
System Commander
http://www.v-com.com/product/sc7_ind.html
System Commander 7 provides the ultimate OS management and full partitioning in one integrated package!
Supports every PC-compatible OS!
Automatic preparation for adding OSes
New - user selectable graphics
New - installs from any Windows, including Windows XP NTFS.
Free! Partition Commander 6 - Safe resize, create, move & copy for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, Linux and DOS partitions.
Undo partitioning with exclusive BackStep technology.
Partition Commander
http://www.v-com.com/product/pc8_ind.html
Partition Commander lets you reclaim hard disk space, organize your files, add new operating systems (OSes), and in many cases speed up hard drive access speeds. Best of all, you don't have to be an expert. Partition Commander automates the process - guiding you through step-by-step. Where you have a choice, helpful suggestions are made available - the rest is handled automatically!
BootIT Next Generation
http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html
BootIt NG is a partition and multi boot manager with a powerful and simple to use set of tools for partitioning, imaging, and multi-booting your computer. It combines the features of several standalone products costing hundreds of dollars more.
Here's a list of some of the features you'll find in BootIt NG:
Windows XP Compatible!
support for large hard drives (2 TB) and partitions (1-2 TB).
non-destructive resizing and conversion for FAT/FAT32.
non-destructive resizing for NTFS.
creation and deletion of partitions/volumes.
undelete partitions/volumes.
FAT/FAT32 formatting
copying and moving of partitions/volumes.
support for Linux Ext2/Ext3 and ReiserFS file systems.
Imaging (including directly to CD-R/RW or DVD+R+RW-R-RW)
booting any partition on any hard drive
booting from the CD ROM drive
booting multiple operating systems from a single partition.
create over 200 primary partitions (if desired).
user id and password protection.
free upgrades (1.00-1.99) (registration-key versions only)
and lots more....
zBoot Manager
http://www.zbmsoft.com/
zBoot Manager is an effective boot manager and partition manager, which allows you to easily install and use multiple operating systems on a single hard drive.
Acronis PartitionExpert
http://www.acronis.com/products/partitionexpert/
Resize, copy, and move partitions without losing data*
Create and delete partitions of any type
Format partitions*
Automatically optimize hard disk space usage
Convert FAT16 <=> FAT32, Linux Ext2 <=> Ext3 partitions without losing data
Change cluster size, automatically or manually**
Browse through the detailed information about all hard disks, partitions and file systems
Hide or make visible partitions of any type
Previewing changes made in partition layout before applying them to disk
Supports large disks over 180 Gb
Check this list compiled by the Crazy one
You may want to consider these. I think most cost a little less than PM and one called Partition Manager says it works with Win2003
Partition Manager
http://www.partition-manager.com/n_pm_main.htm
Partition Manager from Paragon provides easy and safe partitioning functions to even non-professional users.
With Partition Manager you can reclaim wasted disk space, organize your data, add new operating systems, speed up file system performance.
In the past, partition modification was risky and time-consuming task. Users had to backup all files, create new partitions, format them, may be reinstall operating system, and restore data. With Partition Manager you just select what partition modification should be done. All will be done automatically without data loss.
System Commander
http://www.v-com.com/product/sc7_ind.html
System Commander 7 provides the ultimate OS management and full partitioning in one integrated package!
Supports every PC-compatible OS!
Automatic preparation for adding OSes
New - user selectable graphics
New - installs from any Windows, including Windows XP NTFS.
Free! Partition Commander 6 - Safe resize, create, move & copy for Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, Linux and DOS partitions.
Undo partitioning with exclusive BackStep technology.
Partition Commander
http://www.v-com.com/product/pc8_ind.html
Partition Commander lets you reclaim hard disk space, organize your files, add new operating systems (OSes), and in many cases speed up hard drive access speeds. Best of all, you don't have to be an expert. Partition Commander automates the process - guiding you through step-by-step. Where you have a choice, helpful suggestions are made available - the rest is handled automatically!
BootIT Next Generation
http://www.bootitng.com/bootitng.html
BootIt NG is a partition and multi boot manager with a powerful and simple to use set of tools for partitioning, imaging, and multi-booting your computer. It combines the features of several standalone products costing hundreds of dollars more.
Here's a list of some of the features you'll find in BootIt NG:
Windows XP Compatible!
support for large hard drives (2 TB) and partitions (1-2 TB).
non-destructive resizing and conversion for FAT/FAT32.
non-destructive resizing for NTFS.
creation and deletion of partitions/volumes.
undelete partitions/volumes.
FAT/FAT32 formatting
copying and moving of partitions/volumes.
support for Linux Ext2/Ext3 and ReiserFS file systems.
Imaging (including directly to CD-R/RW or DVD+R+RW-R-RW)
booting any partition on any hard drive
booting from the CD ROM drive
booting multiple operating systems from a single partition.
create over 200 primary partitions (if desired).
user id and password protection.
free upgrades (1.00-1.99) (registration-key versions only)
and lots more....
zBoot Manager
http://www.zbmsoft.com/
zBoot Manager is an effective boot manager and partition manager, which allows you to easily install and use multiple operating systems on a single hard drive.
Acronis PartitionExpert
http://www.acronis.com/products/partitionexpert/
Resize, copy, and move partitions without losing data*
Create and delete partitions of any type
Format partitions*
Automatically optimize hard disk space usage
Convert FAT16 <=> FAT32, Linux Ext2 <=> Ext3 partitions without losing data
Change cluster size, automatically or manually**
Browse through the detailed information about all hard disks, partitions and file systems
Hide or make visible partitions of any type
Previewing changes made in partition layout before applying them to disk
Supports large disks over 180 Gb
Windows 2003 does have a built in backup program
called NTBackup
can be executed from
start->run
ntbackup.exe
also
from the start menu under
accessoris->system tools (not quite sure... if not adminsitrative tools)
called NTBackup
can be executed from
start->run
ntbackup.exe
also
from the start menu under
accessoris->system tools (not quite sure... if not adminsitrative tools)
Again, 12 GB is a sufficient C: size. If you manage it properly.
Dell is not going to modify the default setting on windows for you. (Re: pagefile).
If the system has 1 GB of RAM, then so far, you're looking at 2.2 GB of space used - 1.5 by the page file and 700 by the database.
Is this Small Business Server? Premium or Standard? Are they using Exchange?
If you want to know where the space is going, run diruse - a command line Microsoft utility available here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/diruse-o.asp
I usually use the command:
diruse /, /* /m c:\
And I get a nice report.
Dell is not going to modify the default setting on windows for you. (Re: pagefile).
If the system has 1 GB of RAM, then so far, you're looking at 2.2 GB of space used - 1.5 by the page file and 700 by the database.
Is this Small Business Server? Premium or Standard? Are they using Exchange?
If you want to know where the space is going, run diruse - a command line Microsoft utility available here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/existing/diruse-o.asp
I usually use the command:
diruse /, /* /m c:\
And I get a nice report.
I didn't say the image WOULD be larger. I said "... the larger the image of that partition can be."
Obviously any imager that only images active sectors and compresses the image will only take whatever space is required. A new XP install, with Office and several other programs will easily image in about 1GB of space -- doesn't matter how big the system partition is that it was loaded on. BUT, if the data on the system partition "grows," then the size of the image will be larger. Typically the image will be just over half the size of the actual data on the partition. So with a 12gb partition that was FULL, an image would likely be 6 - 7GB (obviously the exact size depends on the degree of compression that can be achieved -- if you had a couple gigs of already-compressed files the image would be larger). And with a 20GB partition that image could easily be 10 - 12GB. Perhaps I should have capitalized (for emphasis) "... CAN be".
Obviously any imager that only images active sectors and compresses the image will only take whatever space is required. A new XP install, with Office and several other programs will easily image in about 1GB of space -- doesn't matter how big the system partition is that it was loaded on. BUT, if the data on the system partition "grows," then the size of the image will be larger. Typically the image will be just over half the size of the actual data on the partition. So with a 12gb partition that was FULL, an image would likely be 6 - 7GB (obviously the exact size depends on the degree of compression that can be achieved -- if you had a couple gigs of already-compressed files the image would be larger). And with a 20GB partition that image could easily be 10 - 12GB. Perhaps I should have capitalized (for emphasis) "... CAN be".
ASKER
I understand what you are saying. My take on what you said earlier, was that the " image " would be the size of the partition no matter how much data was actually there. I do not think that I am going to resize. If I do anything it will be a wipe and reload. Probably will move the page file and data base to the partition " D" and uninstall the programs not needed. I know the customer, they will not be installing any other programs on the server. If anything , just more shares.
Having said that, if you are going to resize the partitions, NOW is definitely the time (while the 2nd partition is empty). But dont' get carried away with the size of the system partition. 20GB would be HUGE!! ... and don't forget the larger the system partition, the larger the image of that partition can be.