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Adding additional disks to the Raid Array
I currently received a server from one of our sister companies. When I received it, it came with three bays full of 10K 73Gb SCSI 320 Drives in and already configure and had been running this way for about 2 years. They had also purchased an additional 73gb drive as well as 2 146gb drives. My question is this, if I want to add these additional disks to the Array, how difficult is it?
I have already tossed the 73gb disk in, however when I go into Disk Management I see nothing.
Can anyone help me with this?
I have already tossed the 73gb disk in, however when I go into Disk Management I see nothing.
Can anyone help me with this?
Oh and don't try and add the 146gb drives to the same array as the 73gb array... The drives should be the same size..
Another option would be to create a mirror array with the 2 x 146 and then use that to mirror the raid 6 73gb array.. (using software raid)... once thats done - you can pull the 73gbs' out - and run on the 146gb x 2 drives.. then re-create the 4 73gb drives into a new array
Another option would be to create a mirror array with the 2 x 146 and then use that to mirror the raid 6 73gb array.. (using software raid)... once thats done - you can pull the 73gbs' out - and run on the 146gb x 2 drives.. then re-create the 4 73gb drives into a new array
ASKER
It is Windows 2003, and Raid 5.
I am looking to increase the storage capacity while keeping the redundancy of Raid 5. I though that there would be an issue since all the drives are not the same size. I wouldn't be opposed to the second option you put out there, however I am not very up to speed on how this is done.
I am looking to increase the storage capacity while keeping the redundancy of Raid 5. I though that there would be an issue since all the drives are not the same size. I wouldn't be opposed to the second option you put out there, however I am not very up to speed on how this is done.
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The next question is what benefit you are trying to get out of the raid set - redundancy or performance?
You have a few options.. if its windows 2003 or 2008 server, you can turn the main raid into a dynamic disk. So that way u can create a new mirror with the 2 x 146gb drives, then add them to the windows 2008 disk by extending the dynamic disk.. You get the benefits of performance from the existing raid plus the redundancy of the 2nd mirror and increase your space by 146gb (not including the 4th 76gb)
Failing that - the only way I know how to extend the raid would be to ghost the server to a file - rebuild whichever raid array you wish, then ghost back... it can be a bit risky tho..