johnpitt
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Move disks to new array, then move array on a Compaq server.
Here is what I have:
1 Compaq server with a 4 bay storage cage. 3 drives configured as raid 5. 3 partitions configured.
431 controller.
I am out of space.
I have 4 new drives of larger capacity I wish to swap.
I also have a spare Compaq storage works tower.
I want to connect the tower to the server with the existing 431 controller (Can I have 2 connected? The external box and the internal drivecage to the same controller at the same time) With the 4 new drives in it. Configure the new array as a raid 5.
Then I want to boot to Acronis Migrate and copy the existing raid 5 over to the new raid 5 in the tower.
Then I want to shut it all down, move the 4 new drives from the tower to the internal cage. 3 old drives will be removed. Disconnect the tower. And boot up and all be the same as it was except I have more HD space. My concern is the RAID being recognized in the internal cage as it was created in the external tower. I do not know if raid array config data is stored on the disk or in the controller.
Can this be done?
Open to all suggestions except backup and restore from tape. I am doing all this to avoid that.
1 Compaq server with a 4 bay storage cage. 3 drives configured as raid 5. 3 partitions configured.
431 controller.
I am out of space.
I have 4 new drives of larger capacity I wish to swap.
I also have a spare Compaq storage works tower.
I want to connect the tower to the server with the existing 431 controller (Can I have 2 connected? The external box and the internal drivecage to the same controller at the same time) With the 4 new drives in it. Configure the new array as a raid 5.
Then I want to boot to Acronis Migrate and copy the existing raid 5 over to the new raid 5 in the tower.
Then I want to shut it all down, move the 4 new drives from the tower to the internal cage. 3 old drives will be removed. Disconnect the tower. And boot up and all be the same as it was except I have more HD space. My concern is the RAID being recognized in the internal cage as it was created in the external tower. I do not know if raid array config data is stored on the disk or in the controller.
Can this be done?
Open to all suggestions except backup and restore from tape. I am doing all this to avoid that.
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After swapping each one and waiting for the rebuild to complete (which you can check in the Array Configuration Utility) you put the additional disk in and select the array and under common tasks there is an option to expand array. After that you can select a logical disk that is on the array and expand that. This is using the latest version of the array configuration utility for whichever OS you have.
After that you may be able to expand the volume using diskpart but I don't know if you're using Windows or what. Do not do the expansion if you have Windows and have converted to dynamic disks. Don't forget to take a backup first, the proceedure works and is supported by HP but during the three rebuilds you don't have any redundancy.
After that you may be able to expand the volume using diskpart but I don't know if you're using Windows or what. Do not do the expansion if you have Windows and have converted to dynamic disks. Don't forget to take a backup first, the proceedure works and is supported by HP but during the three rebuilds you don't have any redundancy.
ASKER
I am using Windows 2000 server. I do not know of a way to expand a windows partition/volume within windows which is what I will need. I am assuming if I do a disk copy, windows will automatically extend the volume to its capacity. Am I wrong there? I will definitely have a good tape backup, if not 2.
Can I extend a volume with diskpart? Is that a windows util? Can you do the one windows is installed on? I do not think I am using dynamic disk. I will check.
Can I extend a volume with diskpart? Is that a windows util? Can you do the one windows is installed on? I do not think I am using dynamic disk. I will check.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325590/en-us for diskpart usage and download for 2000, note it won't extend C:
ASKER
Then it will not help me. C is the one that is running out of space. With backup logs and junk being dumped there by Symantec's updates....argh.
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ASKER
Well I tried it last night. About 8 hours and no luck. I found about 7 ways that will not work though. Acronis would not recognize the 2 arrays on 2 seperate 431 controllers. And the server would not allow 2 array device units attached at the same time. Now I am thinking I might be able to put all the arrays in the tower, move the data, then move the new 4 disk array into the server cage. I wish I had thought of that last night. Around 2 am the mind starts getting stupid.
Does this sound like it will work?
And yes, Acronis migrate will allow me to resize the partions as i move data.
Does this sound like it will work?
And yes, Acronis migrate will allow me to resize the partions as i move data.
I thought you have done all those. It souds promised and it's worth a try.
K
K
ASKER
What I tried was Acronis with the 2 seperate drive cages connected to 2 different controller cards. I just never thought of putting both arrays in one cage. I was having a duh moment.
ASKER
Still waiting to try again. Set for this Thursday night. I had a new HP tape drive go bad and HP is out of stock. It has been about 2 weeks now.
Author is not testing the resolution yet. Please wait for a few days.
Thanks,
K
Thanks,
K
ASKER
Yes, please leave it open. I had a tape drive go out and HP is being VERY slow in getting my replacement to me. I will not try this again until I have about a week of good backups on my new tapes. It is suppose to ship on 1-11.
Sorry for the delay.
Sorry for the delay.
Forced accept.
Computer101
EE Admin
Computer101
EE Admin
ASKER
Thanks