Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of andybrooke
andybrooke

asked on

RAID 10 configuring...

Hi,
Our server is currently configured with 1 hard drive. We want to move down the RAID path and from what I've seen online RAID 10 would be the best option. The motherboard supports it Supermicro X7SBL-LN2. From what I've seen online I would need to re-install the server is this the case? Basically settings up the RAID 10 fisrt then installing windows server.

I dont really see that as an option as I have everything setup and currently working fine and dont really want to re-install everything, as I would need to setup printers, active directory, and folder permissions.

Is there another way?

Thanks

P.S I planned to user somthing like 4x 500 GB Seagate ST3500418AS Barracuda 7200.12 this ok or I need a special type of drive?
Avatar of BitsBytesandMore
BitsBytesandMore
Flag of United States of America image

If you "...have everything setup and currently working fine..." don't fix what is not broken.
You will probably be much better of getting yourself a copy of Acronis for Server from www.acronis.com and making a complete image of your server. Just get a second hard drive, save the image onto the second hard drive and have it on Standby for in case of an emergency.
Keep doing whatever you do for backups.
If something ever goes wrong... you just need to plug in your emergency drive and update from the backups....IMHO.
Bits...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Alan Hardisty
Alan Hardisty
Flag of United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial
Looking at your P.S. - you cannot create RAID 10 with 4 disks.  RAID 5 requires a minimum of 3 disks and RAID 10 is mirrored RAID 5, thus 6 disks would be required.
Well .... I was about to post this.... when I heard the email come in.....lol.
Avatar of andybrooke
andybrooke

ASKER

According to http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-020655.htm and other sites I've seen RAID 10 is minimum 4 disks is that incorrect?
Sorry - you are right.  Never used it but assumed RAID 10 was twice RAID 5.  RAID 5 requires a minimum of 3 drives!  
Either way - the RAID config is not the important part - the rest of my comments are still valid.
Thinking about it the Supermicro chassis that came with the server only has 4 hard drive slots. So shorely RAID 10 can work with 4 disks?
Yes - RAID 10 is RAID 1 + 0 (Mirrored Disks that are Striped to two more):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID 
Ok, I do have Acronis and back up using that so I will do a full back up. Then install 4 drives setup as RAID 10 and then install the backup from Acronis via external USB to the new RAID setup. sound good?
That sounds perfect to me.
The critical part is the Disk Controller and as you are not changing it in your configuration, then you will be fine.
RAID configuration data is stored on the Disks - not teribly relevant here - but useful to know!