gmsugaree
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How do I move an entire Server 2003 OS to Solid State Drives
Hi All,
What would be everyone's best recommendation for how to move an Windows Server 2003 Poweredge 2970 Server from its current RAID-5 SATA configuration over to a new pair of RAID-1 Solid State Drives. It is my company's web server, so downtime must be at a minimum. Basically the Solid State Drives are currently configured in a RAID-1 Array but just an additional drive right now. Let me know your thoughts, thank you!!
GM
What would be everyone's best recommendation for how to move an Windows Server 2003 Poweredge 2970 Server from its current RAID-5 SATA configuration over to a new pair of RAID-1 Solid State Drives. It is my company's web server, so downtime must be at a minimum. Basically the Solid State Drives are currently configured in a RAID-1 Array but just an additional drive right now. Let me know your thoughts, thank you!!
GM
i think the easiest way would be to image the array across using imaging software such as Acronis True Image
In windows create mirror with software RAID, and after mirror is build up, broke it, and move RAID-5 drives from raid array
RAID-5 mirror on RAID-1
RAID-5 mirror on RAID-1
ASKER
Thanks all,
I dont have Acronis licensing but I can look into that.
M3rc74, are you talking about doing this with a built in windows software app?
I dont have Acronis licensing but I can look into that.
M3rc74, are you talking about doing this with a built in windows software app?
You can purchase a product at runtime.org called RAID reconstructor. It will rebuild the RAID5 array onto a single SSD, then you can RAID1 that SSD.
or indeed Norton Ghost (having just noticed this is posted in the "norton ghost" section) would work equally well.
the raid mirror is another option although you may end up with an additional rebuild cycle
the raid mirror is another option although you may end up with an additional rebuild cycle
ASKER
Which way would have the least downtime? Currently the C Drive is 9 GB, and the D Drive where the web site is, is about 20 GB.... :)
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Advantage to system above is you put nothing at risk, and can always go back to how it was before. You could also just add a step 8.5 where you take out the SSDs, put them in ANOTHER computer, disconnect networking cable and check it out to make sure everything works ok using a clone of the data, so you understand what has to be done to turn the disk into a dynamic software RAID while the host is online using the RAID5. You will have to take another clone before switching it over for real, but you will be able to test at your leisure.