Adding old drive with old data into RAID array
On our old Dell Poweredge 4400 Server we have 5 total drives. 1 of which was pulled many many moons ago (at LEAST 4 years) and set on top of the server as a backup in case something went wrong with the software upgrade they were performing. (What's the tape for than?!?)
We're out of space, I have no idea what RAID they're using (I'm guessing RAID5), I would like to throw this drive back in, but I am afraid it's going to write whatever is on this drive to the other and not vice versa. I've only rebuilt degraged drives that needed to be replaced, never had to throw a 4 year old disk back into an array.
Thanks!
We're out of space, I have no idea what RAID they're using (I'm guessing RAID5), I would like to throw this drive back in, but I am afraid it's going to write whatever is on this drive to the other and not vice versa. I've only rebuilt degraged drives that needed to be replaced, never had to throw a 4 year old disk back into an array.
Thanks!
in theory Raid 5 only writes part of the partition to the disk and not overwrite the rest of the data on the disk.
You're generally safe adding disks with old data on them so long as it is done live. Obvious to back up first though.
ASKER
What do you mean done live? Shut the server down then add it? Thanks
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No, they're hot-plug disks in the 4400 aren't they? When you plug disks in hot it is very unlikley that the controller will reconfigure the current disks since they are already running.
ASKER
Yeah they're hot swappable.
That's my thought of it, I would hope the computer is smart enough to realize that's it's old data.
That's my thought of it, I would hope the computer is smart enough to realize that's it's old data.
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