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Raid - Network or domain
hi it would be appreciated if i could get 'yes or no' answers to my specific questions below before i start!!
i wish to configure 'raid 0 & 1' as per these instructions, but have 3 questions below, before i start:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323432
qns1. after initially configuring a network or domain for the 1st time, should i then as best practice, run 'raid' 1st ?
qns2. my network has not been created for a domain yet, but i will do, but i was not sure if it makes a difference if i run 'raid o & 1' before or after ?
- master server
- ris/file server
- isa server
currently i have not (isci hdd's, just normal ide type) - this is only for a small network anyway, but wanted to configure 'raid' for the 1st time to learn its practical use!
qns3. once 'raid 0 & 1' is up & running, am i able to continue using the servers for normal daily use ?
qns4. what if i switch of the 3 servers from time to time over night and switch back on, will this mean i have to re-run 'raid' or does it start automatically ?
i wish to configure 'raid 0 & 1' as per these instructions, but have 3 questions below, before i start:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323432
qns1. after initially configuring a network or domain for the 1st time, should i then as best practice, run 'raid' 1st ?
qns2. my network has not been created for a domain yet, but i will do, but i was not sure if it makes a difference if i run 'raid o & 1' before or after ?
- master server
- ris/file server
- isa server
currently i have not (isci hdd's, just normal ide type) - this is only for a small network anyway, but wanted to configure 'raid' for the 1st time to learn its practical use!
qns3. once 'raid 0 & 1' is up & running, am i able to continue using the servers for normal daily use ?
qns4. what if i switch of the 3 servers from time to time over night and switch back on, will this mean i have to re-run 'raid' or does it start automatically ?
Windows Server 2003RAID
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mikey250
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OK, to answer q1 and q2: I would wait to start mirroring the drives until you have your domain, network and services up and running without issue.
q3: Yes, as soon as the drives are synchronized, which is the regenerating part, it will work as usual, while mirroring all the data on drive0 to drive1 in the background.
q4: No. The RAID setup stays hard coded on the drives such that they will mirror each other until a drive fails, runs out of space, etc.
q3: Yes, as soon as the drives are synchronized, which is the regenerating part, it will work as usual, while mirroring all the data on drive0 to drive1 in the background.
q4: No. The RAID setup stays hard coded on the drives such that they will mirror each other until a drive fails, runs out of space, etc.
ASKER
hi ultralites, ok thanks for that!!!
one more query, on 1 of my server i have done the following:
disk 0
- c: - 12gb
disk 1
- d - 12gb
- e: - 12 gb
- f: - 12 gb
- g: - 12 gb
- h: - 12 gb
when i select 'disk 0 & 1' it shows the above stating: "the disks that will be created contain these volumes" - but not sure if i should remove e: - h: ?
one more query, on 1 of my server i have done the following:
disk 0
- c: - 12gb
disk 1
- d - 12gb
- e: - 12 gb
- f: - 12 gb
- g: - 12 gb
- h: - 12 gb
when i select 'disk 0 & 1' it shows the above stating: "the disks that will be created contain these volumes" - but not sure if i should remove e: - h: ?
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hi ultralites, yes the c: ie disk0 holds the system & boot files & the disk1 is empty, as i just created extra drives like i normally do!!
qns1. on my master dc i happened to created & converted all, so i assume this was ok for the other servers, although u say no ?
c: - 20gb
d: - 20 gb
e: - 18gb
f: - 18gb
qns1. on my master dc i happened to created & converted all, so i assume this was ok for the other servers, although u say no ?
c: - 20gb
d: - 20 gb
e: - 18gb
f: - 18gb
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my master server has already been converted to dynamic as below & can see all partitions in my windows explorer, but when i click on the d or e or f drive, it states to format them!!!
c: - 20gb
d: - 20 gb
e: - 18gb
f: - 18gb
my ris server
disk 0
- c: - 12gb
disk 1
- d - 12gb
- e: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- f: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- g: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- h: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
ive now accessed the windows explorer and the only partitions left are c: & d: as expected!
c: - 20gb
d: - 20 gb
e: - 18gb
f: - 18gb
my ris server
disk 0
- c: - 12gb
disk 1
- d - 12gb
- e: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- f: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- g: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
- h: - 12 gb - i deleted individually
ive now accessed the windows explorer and the only partitions left are c: & d: as expected!
ASKER
i think ive gone & messed it up. because on 1 of my servers it only shows: 'add mirror' on disk1 & not disk0........!!!
may i should just delete the 2nd hdd partition and start again, but then booting the server & booting to cdrom again and -recreate the partion again, so that i can hopefully repeat process.!!:(
ris server now shows:
volume layout type file system
c: mirror dynamic ntfs
disk 0
c: 11.72gb
disk1
d: 11.72gb
c: 11.72gb - after seleting 'add mirror' via c: above it put this replica c: drive hear so i assume this is ok!!!!!!!!!!
may i should just delete the 2nd hdd partition and start again, but then booting the server & booting to cdrom again and -recreate the partion again, so that i can hopefully repeat process.!!:(
ris server now shows:
volume layout type file system
c: mirror dynamic ntfs
disk 0
c: 11.72gb
disk1
d: 11.72gb
c: 11.72gb - after seleting 'add mirror' via c: above it put this replica c: drive hear so i assume this is ok!!!!!!!!!!
ASKER
well it looks like im going to have to re-install clean again.. rrrggghh
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hi,
yes - os system & boot files on disk0
d: disk1 partition is unformatted
my master dc, does not show 'add mirror' on disk0, but disk1 does show 'add mirror', but wrong way round so not sure what ive done.
when i initially installed win 2003 via cdrom i created extra partitions without formattting via this method then continued to install os as i normally do.. the extra hdd space that i did not use, does actually show up as 'unallocated'..!!
it took me all day to install all os's - rrrrgh my fault though
yes - os system & boot files on disk0
d: disk1 partition is unformatted
my master dc, does not show 'add mirror' on disk0, but disk1 does show 'add mirror', but wrong way round so not sure what ive done.
when i initially installed win 2003 via cdrom i created extra partitions without formattting via this method then continued to install os as i normally do.. the extra hdd space that i did not use, does actually show up as 'unallocated'..!!
it took me all day to install all os's - rrrrgh my fault though
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hi conollyg,
thanks for your input. in then end i had to re-install which i am currently doing again and once complete i will run 'dynamic' for each individual c: & d: & hopefully should be able to select c: & run add mirror.
i was just whatching a video for 'shadow copies and as my 'ris & file' server is a member server only, im thinking thinking i should save my 'shadow copies' on a different external disc or a 3rd hdd if attached, as raid should run separate.. ?
thanks for your input. in then end i had to re-install which i am currently doing again and once complete i will run 'dynamic' for each individual c: & d: & hopefully should be able to select c: & run add mirror.
i was just whatching a video for 'shadow copies and as my 'ris & file' server is a member server only, im thinking thinking i should save my 'shadow copies' on a different external disc or a 3rd hdd if attached, as raid should run separate.. ?
ASKER
hi again, the issue i have is that after making both: c: & d: drive dynamic individually.
i then right click disk 0 for c: and the 'add mirror' is dimmed out, but i assumed i should be able to select this but cannot ..!!
i then right click disk1 for d: and the 'add mirror' does allow me to select, but that does not make sense, as it is c: drive i wish to mirror to d:..!!
rrrgghhh
i then right click disk 0 for c: and the 'add mirror' is dimmed out, but i assumed i should be able to select this but cannot ..!!
i then right click disk1 for d: and the 'add mirror' does allow me to select, but that does not make sense, as it is c: drive i wish to mirror to d:..!!
rrrgghhh
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ASKER
hi ultralites, ok i will try this tomorrow, i know u did mention about 'unallocated' previously.
ASKER
hi ultralites, ive followed your instruction & deleted the d: drive just leaving the c:\ drive.
- i then selected 'dynamic' for the c:\ drive successfully & system has rebooted.
- when i log back onto to check - 'add mirror' on c:\ drive is still - dimmed .!!
- i then selected 'dynamic' for the c:\ drive successfully & system has rebooted.
- when i log back onto to check - 'add mirror' on c:\ drive is still - dimmed .!!
HI mikey250,
Please attach a screenshot of your Disk Management window showing your disk 0 and disk 1.
Please attach a screenshot of your Disk Management window showing your disk 0 and disk 1.
ASKER
hi ive attached screenshot, although when i show 'add mirror' via mouse & then select 'alt print screen, the menu dissappears!
RAID-ISSUE1.docx
RAID-ISSUE1.docx
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As @ultralites said, your disks or in this case partitions have to be the same size.
But as you only have one physical disk why do you want to mirror your c: drive anyway? THe Microsoft instructions you referenced even say you need TWO physical disks, you are trying to do this with the two partitions on ONE physical disk.
If you want to give your system some resilience then buy another hard drive (make sure its the same size or bigger than the current drive and do the mirror then.
But as you only have one physical disk why do you want to mirror your c: drive anyway? THe Microsoft instructions you referenced even say you need TWO physical disks, you are trying to do this with the two partitions on ONE physical disk.
If you want to give your system some resilience then buy another hard drive (make sure its the same size or bigger than the current drive and do the mirror then.
ASKER
hi ultralites, thanks for that advice sounds clear enough to me, so i need to identical hdd's even if i do not use the whole hdd when partitioned at the c:\..
appreciated!
appreciated!
ASKER
hi connollyg, yes i have 1 physical disc which is over 100 gb, but only partitioned temporarily with 8 gb being used on the c:\ & my 2nd physical disc was only 8 gb in size, which i had left unallocated as suggested, but did not realise that irrespective both hdd's need to be of the same size.
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hi connollyg, no memory stick both are hdd's. it ok, once i have an identical size 2nd hdd i will put it into practice. so thanks!!! :)
ASKER
sound advice i will put to use when i buy a 2nd identical size hdd.
qns1. will i notice any difference in day to day use or does it just to the mirror ?