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How to migrate a RAID array from onboard RAID to PCI RAID

ok, i currently have a Silicon Image SATA RAID 3114 chip onboard an intel MB. There are four disks attached in a RAID 5.

the onboard RAID is bad ( i think ) so I'm installing a PCI-X Promise RAID card tomorrow.

I am having trouble wrapping my head around HOW to migrate the RAID array.

First of all, the new card wont have drivers for it on the existing OS, so, i thought that since the server will come up in it's existing state, I'd install the new RAID card, bring up the server and install the drivers.

then, after shutting down, I'll move the existing array over to the new card, and attempt to bring it online.

Thoughts? Ideas? Suggestions? Pitfalls?

mostly looking for feedback and a sounding board.

Thanks

Cliff

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Callandor

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Lee W, MVP

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crp0499

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I can't believe i left out the important stuff. this server is a server 2003 enterprise server running exchange, DNS and DHCP and holds the users data shares. the RAID is on the SI 3114 and consists of 4 500 gig drives on a RAID 5 for just about 1.2 TB of storage. That 1.2 is partitioned into a C and a D in a 25/75 split.

from what I am reading, I think what I am going to do is to bring in a new server that already has an OS on it and move DNS, DHCP and the shares to it, install exchange on the new server and go w/ it. With 20 users, I think I can do that in a shorter period of time than all of the many good suggestions above. I just hope the existing server will stay up long enough to let me copy the shares off.

the problem I have w/ the existing box is I don't know exactly what the problem is. it could be the RAID controller. It could be the drives and it could be the MB or even the cables. I'm guessing by replacing one part at a time until i find it and this is a production server.

I'll keep everyone posted.

Callandor

It sounds like a good plan. I would recommend against using onboard RAID for production systems, as they are very difficult to recover from if the controller fails, and in general have lower performance than dedicated cards.