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Repartitioning and converting large array to GPT disk
I have a server at a client with a six-drive RAID 5 array that was recently upgraded from 250GB disks to 1TB disks. The server was--for various reasons--configured during its initial install years ago with a single partition (C:) for both the OS and data partitions. A Dell PERC/5i running firmware version 5.0.2-0003 handles the array and there a single virtual disk on the controller formatted as a MBR disk.
Long story short, I need to find some way to convert the disk to GPT so I can access the entire 4TB (one drive is a hot spare) of usable space through a single drive letter. I realize this can't be done on an active OS partition. I'm not against splitting the OS and data into separate partitions, but I'm looking for advice on how to do this without backing up the entire server and doing a fresh install with brand new partitions. Perhaps there is some way to use the PERC management tools to split off some of the physical disks from the existing array into new virtual disks without losing any existing data? Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks!
Long story short, I need to find some way to convert the disk to GPT so I can access the entire 4TB (one drive is a hot spare) of usable space through a single drive letter. I realize this can't be done on an active OS partition. I'm not against splitting the OS and data into separate partitions, but I'm looking for advice on how to do this without backing up the entire server and doing a fresh install with brand new partitions. Perhaps there is some way to use the PERC management tools to split off some of the physical disks from the existing array into new virtual disks without losing any existing data? Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks!
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rindi, I don't think he will be able to expand the drives due to MBR partitioning limitation of 2048GB size.
Windows will not work with space that exceeds this limit on MBR disks, that's why Microsoft added this GPT partitioning format.
Windows will not work with space that exceeds this limit on MBR disks, that's why Microsoft added this GPT partitioning format.
At the moment his windows partition is smaller than 2TB. Expanding the array itself should be no problem using the raid controller. He just can't get a partition larger than 2TB for his windows partition, and I don't recommend that anyway. He should rather build separate partitions from his newly gained space.
He could not build new partitions on new space again due to 2TB limit of MBR. He can create additional partitions inside of 2048GB zone not out of it. Even if he manage to create new partitions out of 2TB zone Windows will not work with them if the drive is MBR type.
If you can move the system files to a separate disk (not just a separate partition) somehow, then you can use gptgen (https://sourceforge.net/projects/gptgen/ - open-source tool) to convert the drive "on-the-fly" (with data on it) to GPT. I don't recommend trying this with the boot files on the disk being converted, as gptgen doesn't handle boot partitions itself (though it may be possible to restore bootability of the partition after converting the disk to GPT, I haven't tested this situation.
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Thanks to all, I spoke with Dell and the only option to create new virtual disks on the PERC is to wipe the existing containers, build from scratch, and bare metal restore OS and Data to new VDs. Awarding points to rindi for quick & comprehensive response.
PERC management tools does not allow selecting dynamic\GPT or basic types of partitioning as far as I know.
Backup your data and reinstall the OS + applications to GPT partitioned drive of 4TB.