hckynt
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RAID Problems
Experts.
We have a Dell PE2850 w/ RAID 10 running SB Server 2003. The server is suppose to have 4 73GB hard drives. When I open Dell OpenManage Server Administrator it looks like the configuration is PERC4/Di (Embedded). It also shows Channel 0 (RAID) - Backplace - Array Disks (which is where I can see all four drives) and then Channel 1 (SCSI). What am I looking at? How come I only have a single drive letter with 146GIG, instead of 292GiG? Could someone please explain this to me? Thanks!
We have a Dell PE2850 w/ RAID 10 running SB Server 2003. The server is suppose to have 4 73GB hard drives. When I open Dell OpenManage Server Administrator it looks like the configuration is PERC4/Di (Embedded). It also shows Channel 0 (RAID) - Backplace - Array Disks (which is where I can see all four drives) and then Channel 1 (SCSI). What am I looking at? How come I only have a single drive letter with 146GIG, instead of 292GiG? Could someone please explain this to me? Thanks!
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Thanks for the quick response!
Three things...
1. How come when I look at the Disk Management I don't see the mirror (I thought you used to be able to see the mirrors)?
2. What would happen if I bought two more disks (the server holds 6)?
3. When the server was setup, the primary partion was setup too small (in my humble opinion). Is there a way to "move" space from the virtual drive to the logical drive?
Thanks for the help!
Three things...
1. How come when I look at the Disk Management I don't see the mirror (I thought you used to be able to see the mirrors)?
2. What would happen if I bought two more disks (the server holds 6)?
3. When the server was setup, the primary partion was setup too small (in my humble opinion). Is there a way to "move" space from the virtual drive to the logical drive?
Thanks for the help!
1) The OS sees a RAID array as one volume, unless it is partitioned into more than one logical disk.
2) The rule of mirroring applies: you get only half of what you add, if they are the same size.
3) A tool like Partition Magic can help here. Make sure you back everything up before messing around with the partition table.
2) The rule of mirroring applies: you get only half of what you add, if they are the same size.
3) A tool like Partition Magic can help here. Make sure you back everything up before messing around with the partition table.
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2a - depending on the RAID controller it MIGHT be possible to convert to a RAID 5 on each RAID 0, then break the mirror and add the other disks to the RAID 5. (Maybe break the mirror first). Then you would have 365GB of space (6x73-73) - RAID 5 does Number of Drives x size - 1 drive size = total space.
It MIGHT be necessary to kill the server and rebuild it if you want to convert RAID levels - depends on the controller (I'm not terribly familiar with the 4/Di, but I THINK it can dynamically adjust RAID volumes.
It MIGHT be necessary to kill the server and rebuild it if you want to convert RAID levels - depends on the controller (I'm not terribly familiar with the 4/Di, but I THINK it can dynamically adjust RAID volumes.
ASKER
Thanks for all your help!
leew,
You called it exactly, the primary partion is only 12 GIG. This is our DC and Exchange server. Exchange was installed to the logical drive, as were all the other applications. I also moved the user's directories off the primary partion. However, SMSMSE and antivirus were installed to C:. I have over 5 GIG left and I was just getting a little worried.
leew,
You called it exactly, the primary partion is only 12 GIG. This is our DC and Exchange server. Exchange was installed to the logical drive, as were all the other applications. I also moved the user's directories off the primary partion. However, SMSMSE and antivirus were installed to C:. I have over 5 GIG left and I was just getting a little worried.
Move the exchange databases off the C: drive and the page file as well. There's little more than the occasional windows updates that you will or should need to install to C: so 5GB should be plenty.
The process for Exchange 2003 should be essentially the same:
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF001.html
The process for Exchange 2003 should be essentially the same:
http://www.msexchange.org/tutorials/MF001.html
RAID 10 means RAID 1+0 - 1 is a mirror - 0 is a strip.
You have two sets of two drives configured in a RAID 0, each set giving 146 GB total. THEN you mirror them in a RAID 1 and because you are mirroring, you have an IDENTICAL COPY on the other 146 GB - you won't see 292 GB because you only have 146 GB of usable space.