Raid 1+0 Disk needs additional storage.

Maybe you need to post a little more information: Is this a mission critical server? How much time have do you to make the upgrade?

Is it a DL380G4 1U with only 2 HDD bays? If it is I think you have a RAID1 (mirror) configuration instead of 1+0 since the last one requieres at least 4 drives.

I think you can use External Storage (easyway) or you can try doing this if you have the chance, time and only this server to do it:

- You have a RAID 1 (mirror)
- Split your RAID1 and remove 1 drive
- Add a new drive with more capacity to the new free HDD bay
- Install and move all your applications and data to this new drive
- Verified that all is OK
- Remove the old low capacity drive and use only the new disk
- Add the second high capacity drive to the server and rebuild the RAID1 using the first high capacity drive

If you make a mistake with something you still have your first original low capacity disk with all your information. Make sure to get compatible high capacity media.

It's my backup server. Critical. It's indeed a 1Raid (Mirror) Sorry for the typo. It only has two bays.
The server runs fine, but the problem I have is that I need to restore and I need more space for this. I tried using External Storage, but due to the fact that my current software doesn't support external storage.

Maybe you can try to split your RAID1. Doing this you get 1 drive bay. You can put a high capacity disk on it and use as temporal aditional space to RESTORE. Then put again your low capacity HDD and rebuild your RAID1. This should work for now, but in longterm you will need to upgrade your server.

To upgrade you can clone your system to a high capacity disk using one disk of the RAID1 or reinstalling on the new HDD and copy your data manually. At the end you will end with the same RAID1 but with more capacity.

Another option is try an External RAID option, there are boards that allow you to have a RAID option on external drives, but you will need to buy the RAID board, disks and disk cases. This should work because your system will see this new space as local and not as removable external, like if you use a USB option.

Also you can try using network storage space, maybe your software support mapped units or network storage options.

I have never split a raid config yet. Any pointers?

RAID1 is a mirror, both disk are syncronized and have the same information. If you want to split is safely shutdown your server and follow the steps of the RAID controller bios. If you remove the RAID1 configuration you will have 2 disk with the same information.

You can define a new RAID1 then, for that you commonly define a disk to be the mainsource for the mirror, and the other disk will be synchronized with this one. This process (sync) could take some time depending of the drive size.

Check your RAID controller documentation for more information about managing RAID configuration. Also, if you have to reinstall the system using the new high capacity disk it's possible that you need to press F6 during the install process, or install using the original HP disks. This is because Windows needs the RAID controller driver to get access to your RAID disks.

At any point remember that you have 2 disks with your data. So be carefull to take one safe, if you made a mistake you can attach your backup disk and start your system, then you can rebuild your RAID1 from that disk.

Also, some HP systems have a option to increase the logical drive size for a RAID1 when the disks are upgraded. I think this document could be very usefull for you: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00378986/c00378986.pdf

OK. Thank very much. I will do this tomorrow morning and I will keep you posted.

I've split the array and added one second larger capacity disk. It has one 36gb and one 146gb. I am not sure how to recreate the array using these two disks.

Use the BIOS utility of your RAID controller to rebuild or recreate the RAID1, using your 36gb disk as source. Your maximun mirror size will be 36gb because you still have one low capacity disk. Depending of your RAID controller model you will have an option to increase the logical drive size (of the mirror)after you recreate, resync and replace both disk.

If you don't have this option (maybe your controller is a small one shipped with the server) you can try to clone (or copy+reinstall) your 36GB disk into your 146gb, and then recreate the RAID1 using two 146gb disks.

The problem isn't recreate the mirror, this can be done using the BOIS utility and maybe also the Windows utility of the RAID controller. The problem is if your controller model haven't the option to increase the logical drive size once both disk are replaced. Which is your controller model number?

Smart Array 6i Controller
 
Controller  Smart Array 6i Controller
Bus Interface  64-Bit PCI  
Controller Location  Embedded  

You can rebuild your RAID1 doing this:
http://docs.hp.com/en/9320/acu.pdf
Page 29, "Recombining a split, mirrored array"

Those instructions are for a RAID1+0, in your case is simple because you have just 1 disk to mirror. All you need to do is select your source drive to mirror (36GB disk).

Later you can follow this:
Also check this document: http://www.icare.hp.com.cn/techcenter_staticarticle/27857/27677.pdf
Page 30, "Upgrading Hard Drive Capacity".

BTW, I am getting error event 11 when I try to initialize the larger HD.
The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk1.

THX