asked on RAID and SATA disk
I have a Dell 2950 server that has integrated RAID 6/i. I am running Windows Server 2008 R2. I have two SAS drives installed and am using them for my base OS and VM's. I needed to add space but since it's just a DEV machine, I thought I should just go with a SATA drive (cheaper for more space). I understand it cannot be part of the RAID, but can it be used outside the RAID as an additional data drive? Second question is, if I disable RAID, will I lose all my data on the two drives that are already there?
I am asking these questions because I cannot get the drive to show up in Disk Management. I also tried to add a external USB drive, and it also does not show up in Disk Management. I am assuming that RAID is on and either cannot be added as a third drive since they are not in the RAID? Any feedback and/or solutions would be helpful.
I am asking these questions because I cannot get the drive to show up in Disk Management. I also tried to add a external USB drive, and it also does not show up in Disk Management. I am assuming that RAID is on and either cannot be added as a third drive since they are not in the RAID? Any feedback and/or solutions would be helpful.
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Software Squirrel
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Perhaps you are using a SATA drive that is over 2G.
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/servers/f/906/p/19309039/19606508.aspx
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/servers/f/906/p/19309039/19606508.aspx
You're running into the limitations of having a bios.
To go over 2TB on a single (virtual) disk, you have to change to a different partitioning style; you have to change to GPT (default partitioning style is MBR). However, a computer that uses a bios, cannot boot the computer to such a disk.
You have a few options:
- create 2 virtual disks on the same set of physical drives; one for boot, the other for the rest of the disk space (downside is that you'll never be able to expand this raid set to include additional drives due to having 2 virtual disks on there)
ASKER
The SATA drive is only 1TB. How to I access the PERC control panel. Does this have to be accessed in the BIOS? If so, how do I access it? I noticed there are many firmware updates from Dell for my 2950. Maybe I'm missing the control panel?
At the post you enter a control sequence as it scans for disk. Can't remember what it is for a PERC 6. I even have a Dell with that controller next to me, but it is in the middle of something, so am not going to reboot it ;)
No matter what, you should always update firmware on everything as well as drivers. Raid firmware is vital, as they fix severity-1 errors that prevent data loss.
No matter what, you should always update firmware on everything as well as drivers. Raid firmware is vital, as they fix severity-1 errors that prevent data loss.
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Yes if you don't have the Management software installed on the server then you access it on startup. Watch during post it will say what push....ctrl-s or something I don't recall off hand.
edit: lol .. what they said ^ 8>)
edit: lol .. what they said ^ 8>)
Install Dell Open Manage Server Administrator
Launch it
open storage
Create new Raid 0 VD for your new drive
Go to Windows Disk Management
Happy Day ... you have a new Disk :)
Launch it
open storage
Create new Raid 0 VD for your new drive
Go to Windows Disk Management
Happy Day ... you have a new Disk :)
ASKER
I went into the settings in the BIOS area. Ctrl-R will get you to the disk setup. I added a new Disk. Right now it's initiating. I'm assuming, so far so good. Since it's 1TB it's taking a long time. I will update the thread if it does not show up in my Disk Manager after this. I do think I will add Dell Open Manager Server Administrator, add a new disk and try that as well. That should be much more intuitive.
The firmware supports background initialization, so you can start using it now. It will prioritize your I/O and finish initializing during idle time between I/Os. This will make it take longer to complete, but since it is the day before a holiday, what the heck ... let it finish on its own and you won't have to wait for it.
ASKER
I was able to get it going with the approved feedback above. Some of the other feedback was informational, but not relevent to my situation.
But yes you should be able to use the extra drive as another volume no problem at all.