vseatech
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Expanding Partitioned RAID 5
Our Net Admin just left. We've got a Prolient DL380 G4, RAID 5, partitioned to C & D (basic). I'm fairly sure that if I want to expand the array I've got to backup and restore since it's a software array (ACU), but I just wanted some confirmation from the experts. I guess if it was a hardware array I could pop in 2 disks, configure the partition to expand the array and then I'd have additional volume, but either way I just need some help from the experts. What do you guys think?
PUNKY
You need at least 3 disks to make Raid 5.
Just to make sure I understand (I think PUNKY was confused) - you already have a RAID5, probably 3 disks. Those are probably DYNAMIC disks in Windows. Assuming that is the case, I'm pretty sure that you can extend the RAID5 in Windows to additional dynamic disks on-the-fly with out reloading, then extend the partitions. In these cases software raid is usually more flexible than many hardware raid vendors allow.
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As WallD says it is pretty straight forwards and can all be done online. It takes a long time (4GB per hour) because it has to maintain parity during the expansion.
Objecting to deletion. WallD told him correctly that it is a hardware RAID array and can be expanded by using the ACU. Since vseatech was under the imperssion that it was a software RAID set this info was pretty useful.
Thnx Andy
Force accepted.
Vee_Mod
Community Support Moderator
Vee_Mod
Community Support Moderator