How to upgrade hard drive (SAS) capacity in RAID-1 configuration (PowerEdge 1950)
Hello,
I've PowerEdge 1950 server with 2 x 73GB SAS hard drives installed. The server (Terminal Server) is running on Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 edition. Out of 4 slots, I already used 2 slots for the storage. I created a Virtual Disk with RAID-1 configuration by using Dell OpenManage Server Administration tool I would like to upgrade the storage on each hard drive from 73GB to 146GB.
How can I upgrade both the hard drives while preserving the same RAID-1 configuration? I got this reply from one of the support person "The easiest way would be to backup the current configuration and restore it to bigger one. When talking about replacing HDDs in current RAID1, as you use mirror configuration it must mirror the small drive to new drive. But this often leaves you with unused block of space because mirroring takes place which is equal to smallest drive in pair".
I don't want to reinstall the OS. Any further help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
I've PowerEdge 1950 server with 2 x 73GB SAS hard drives installed. The server (Terminal Server) is running on Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 edition. Out of 4 slots, I already used 2 slots for the storage. I created a Virtual Disk with RAID-1 configuration by using Dell OpenManage Server Administration tool I would like to upgrade the storage on each hard drive from 73GB to 146GB.
How can I upgrade both the hard drives while preserving the same RAID-1 configuration? I got this reply from one of the support person "The easiest way would be to backup the current configuration and restore it to bigger one. When talking about replacing HDDs in current RAID1, as you use mirror configuration it must mirror the small drive to new drive. But this often leaves you with unused block of space because mirroring takes place which is equal to smallest drive in pair".
I don't want to reinstall the OS. Any further help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.
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The response you got from Dell is correct on a SAS 5/6. If you have a PERC, then that is a different story, but on a SAS 5/6, once you replace/rebuild each drive, the array will still be the same size with no way of "expanding" the array to occupy the newly available space.
Take an image of your disks and restore it to the new, larger disks configured in a RAID 1. There is no other way (besides reinstalling from scratch/rebuilding) to do what you are wanting to do.
Take an image of your disks and restore it to the new, larger disks configured in a RAID 1. There is no other way (besides reinstalling from scratch/rebuilding) to do what you are wanting to do.
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@SysExpert,
Your solution seems to be possible. Because I have used only 2 slots out of 4 slots. I can put new 146 GB drive into 3rd slot to copy the contents for 1st 73GB hard drive. And the same for 2nd drive.
I don't have experience with any backup / restore tools for servers. What type of software do you recommend for this purpose? (for this PowerEdge 1950 server too!)
Your solution seems to be possible. Because I have used only 2 slots out of 4 slots. I can put new 146 GB drive into 3rd slot to copy the contents for 1st 73GB hard drive. And the same for 2nd drive.
I don't have experience with any backup / restore tools for servers. What type of software do you recommend for this purpose? (for this PowerEdge 1950 server too!)
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Correct me if I'm going into wrong direction.
- I'll put 2 new 146GB hard drives into remaining slots by keeping the existing 2 old 73GB hard drives.
- By using 3rd party drive cloning software, I will copy the old hard drive data to new hard drives.
- Then create a new array for newer drives.
- Boot the server from the 2nd array.
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Why not keep the 72GB disks and buy 2 more of them and convert it to RAID 10, I think you can do that on the fly and see the capacity increase although PowerEdgeTech may know different. It'd probably be a bit faster too with 4 disks rather than two in it.
Only possible with a PERC. SAS 6 will not do a RAID 10. I guess we're still not sure which he is using :)
If you do a RAID 10, however, there will only be 136GB total space available - the same as doing a RAID 1 with two 146GB drives.
Srinath - I almost have to assume you are using a PERC, as you mentioned using OpenManage to create the RAID 1 Virtual Disk. I don't believe the SAS 6 would allow you to create a single RAID 1 from OpenManage.
If you do a RAID 10, however, there will only be 136GB total space available - the same as doing a RAID 1 with two 146GB drives.
Srinath - I almost have to assume you are using a PERC, as you mentioned using OpenManage to create the RAID 1 Virtual Disk. I don't believe the SAS 6 would allow you to create a single RAID 1 from OpenManage.
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@andyalder,
The main intention is to upgrade the hard drive storage from existing 73GB to 146GB by keeping existing fault tolerance configurations. Is RAID 10 better than RAID 1? I'm using SAS 6i/R RAID controller came with PowerEdge 1950 server.
The main intention is to upgrade the hard drive storage from existing 73GB to 146GB by keeping existing fault tolerance configurations. Is RAID 10 better than RAID 1? I'm using SAS 6i/R RAID controller came with PowerEdge 1950 server.
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Ah, not a PERC, guess 6i/R is Dell's equivalent of HP's B110i as in the Intel chipset fakeraid controller. I'll stand down then on the technical side. Still might be better to add the two disks for data and keep the other two installed as well for the OS though.
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thats the easiest way IMHO.