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RAID 1
We have a Cisco UCS server with 2 drives and using hardware RAID 1. It is running windows server 2003. We know want to run ESXi5 on this server, so the plan to implement this is as follows:
Pull the primary HDD as a precaution just in case we have to put it back, and then blow away the RAID config on the second disk. Load ESXi on the clean second disk.
The question though is this:
If I pull the first HDD, could I put it back with no problems if I had to?
Second question is:
If this works correctly, can I then put the disk back and reconfig for RAID 1 with the new ESXi hypervisor.
Pull the primary HDD as a precaution just in case we have to put it back, and then blow away the RAID config on the second disk. Load ESXi on the clean second disk.
The question though is this:
If I pull the first HDD, could I put it back with no problems if I had to?
Second question is:
If this works correctly, can I then put the disk back and reconfig for RAID 1 with the new ESXi hypervisor.
I agree with dlethe, you could have data loss. I agree that Cisco should be contacted regarding their raid controller. When your using somene else's software or firmware. it's better to ask first rather than take a chance.
On second thought ... there is absolutely no way that Cisco ran all the failure scenarios like LSI, Dell, HP or any other subsystem manufacturer does. Even if they tell you it will work doesn't mean they have any liability if it doesn't.
This is probably using host-based software RAID to begin with, or a fakeraid chip, not some expensive RAID controller. So it won't work reliably enough to be trusted.
The answer is no. It won't work.
This is probably using host-based software RAID to begin with, or a fakeraid chip, not some expensive RAID controller. So it won't work reliably enough to be trusted.
The answer is no. It won't work.
Which model UCS server? It's probably got an LSI Megaraid controller in it so you can setup as RAID 0 and then do a RAID level migration after you add the 2nd disk.
Bit of a waste of disks if it supports SD cards, you could use that for ESX instead of disk and then the question doesn't arise and if you want to use the whole of the disks for local data later on you can.
Bit of a waste of disks if it supports SD cards, you could use that for ESX instead of disk and then the question doesn't arise and if you want to use the whole of the disks for local data later on you can.
ASKER
its a Cisoc C200
m1, m2 or m3? Since you have Windows on it at the moment you can look in device mangler to see if it has a RAID controller or not since it's optional.
ASKER
Its M2. I will have to look in device manager. Not able to at the moment.
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ASKER
Thanks for your response.
You need to check with Cisco if a "foreign" disk can be brought back online in event of worst case scenarios, and then test it, because rule one is not to trust such things unless you test for yourself. Do so with the 2nd disk failed, good, and having a bad block or two.
Personally, I wouldn't even attempt it. Sounds like you don't have time or desire to do full testing to insure it will work.