Add more disk space to a Windows Server 2003
Hi,
First of all I am not a network admin but a developer so the back office hardware is not my cuppa tea. I am however tasked now to find a solution for one of our servers (on the server rack) that is running out of space and causing problems for a site running on there.
Details:
Server disk size 34GB
Available free space 10 GB
OS Windows Server 2003 R2
This is running only one website that is live and critical to business. During holiday period it run out of space bringing the site down. The web site/portal will be rewritten this year so we need this server maintained for one more year.
What I would like help with is the easiest and most cost effective way to increase the disk size. Moving the site to another is too risky. I am also aware of Windows Server 2003 support from Microsoft coming to an end in April but it is not worth moving to a new OS as we will throw away that server once the new site is written
Please let me know of any details needed that I missed.
Thanks
H
First of all I am not a network admin but a developer so the back office hardware is not my cuppa tea. I am however tasked now to find a solution for one of our servers (on the server rack) that is running out of space and causing problems for a site running on there.
Details:
Server disk size 34GB
Available free space 10 GB
OS Windows Server 2003 R2
This is running only one website that is live and critical to business. During holiday period it run out of space bringing the site down. The web site/portal will be rewritten this year so we need this server maintained for one more year.
What I would like help with is the easiest and most cost effective way to increase the disk size. Moving the site to another is too risky. I am also aware of Windows Server 2003 support from Microsoft coming to an end in April but it is not worth moving to a new OS as we will throw away that server once the new site is written
Please let me know of any details needed that I missed.
Thanks
H
What server model and RAID controller model do you have?
One of the easiest ways to free up space is to move your page file to another partition, preferably another disk.
One of the easiest ways to free up space is to move your page file to another partition, preferably another disk.
ASKER
PowerEdgeTech,
How do I find out about this? I have access to the server room. What do I need to look for to answer to your questions
How do I find out about this? I have access to the server room. What do I need to look for to answer to your questions
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single partition I am afraid :-(
well, you have to move the system to bigger drive. Or virtualize the server.
Another option is to connect the second drive and move some data to it.
Anyhow, you have 16GB space free. Why is this space not enough? I event don't see a page file enabled on this server.
Are you sure it was off due to lack of space?
Another option is to connect the second drive and move some data to it.
Anyhow, you have 16GB space free. Why is this space not enough? I event don't see a page file enabled on this server.
Are you sure it was off due to lack of space?
ASKER
Model
ProLiant DL360 G4p
ProLiant DL360 G4p
If you can schedule a maintenance shut down of the server then the best workaround would be replace the drive(s) with bigger one(s). Backup and restore would take 2 hours for the whole task if not less.
Is this single HDD based machine or RAID1 based one?
Is this single HDD based machine or RAID1 based one?
ASKER
noxcho,
The site that ruins on this server has a huge traffic creating lots of IIS logs, Web Trend logs, order files for ftp etc. I made the 16GB by deleting every possible thing that can be deleted. Last time I cleared up., I made 4 GB which lasted less than a month. I need 100GB or more to be safe.
The page file, I am pretty sure, was there a couple of months ago but my colleague may have switched it off and moved it, not sure ...
So the options:
1. Move to bigger drive. Can you buy a drive alone and add in to these servers like an ordinary PC? If so what is the cost and how do you copy the data over (diskimage?)?
2. Virtualize the server. This sounds tool complex for adding some space, no?
3. Second drive and move some data to it. Worried about breaking something once I move data - I cannot see stuff that can be easily moved (maybe logs)
Option 1 and 3 look better provided I know what steps are involved.
What would you do?
The site that ruins on this server has a huge traffic creating lots of IIS logs, Web Trend logs, order files for ftp etc. I made the 16GB by deleting every possible thing that can be deleted. Last time I cleared up., I made 4 GB which lasted less than a month. I need 100GB or more to be safe.
The page file, I am pretty sure, was there a couple of months ago but my colleague may have switched it off and moved it, not sure ...
So the options:
1. Move to bigger drive. Can you buy a drive alone and add in to these servers like an ordinary PC? If so what is the cost and how do you copy the data over (diskimage?)?
2. Virtualize the server. This sounds tool complex for adding some space, no?
3. Second drive and move some data to it. Worried about breaking something once I move data - I cannot see stuff that can be easily moved (maybe logs)
Option 1 and 3 look better provided I know what steps are involved.
What would you do?
ASKER
I can certainly schedule a maintenance shut down of the server for several hours. What is the best way to find if it is RAID or single HDD? I did warn you I was not a server admin :-)
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Thomas Zucker-Scharff,
So you installed the Paragon hard disk partition manager then that allowed you to backup your disk and then you installed a new hard drive and then you used the same software to restore the backup to the new disk?
How easy was it to install the new disk?
So you installed the Paragon hard disk partition manager then that allowed you to backup your disk and then you installed a new hard drive and then you used the same software to restore the backup to the new disk?
How easy was it to install the new disk?
I am not a hardware person and this took 3 hours total including the replacement of the drives. The longest amount of time was the backup, which took place before I took the system down. The backup I left going over night, although it didn't take that long.
ASKER
noxcho,
Just checked server and it has 2 scsi disks (it says ultra320 SCSI) of the same size 36.4GB
Still not sure if it is RAID or not. I can see the HP disk array software installed.
So, I can use software as suggested by Thomas Zucker-Scharff.
Question is why do I need 2 new drives? to configure as RAID1 (failsafe mechanism)?
Your link also didn't show any costs, do you know how much these things cost.
Sorry, I know I am asking too many questions and I appreciate your assistance
Just checked server and it has 2 scsi disks (it says ultra320 SCSI) of the same size 36.4GB
Still not sure if it is RAID or not. I can see the HP disk array software installed.
So, I can use software as suggested by Thomas Zucker-Scharff.
Question is why do I need 2 new drives? to configure as RAID1 (failsafe mechanism)?
Your link also didn't show any costs, do you know how much these things cost.
Sorry, I know I am asking too many questions and I appreciate your assistance
ASKER
Thomas Zucker-Scharff,
Where did you save your backup to? DVD?
Where did you save your backup to? DVD?
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I saved backup originally to network drive and then copied to a USB passport drive (4tb for $120) I ended up using the USB drive for the restore.
The software might be free for you depending on your status here or elsewhere (if you have at least 50k points here or are an MVP, or several other designations) check out the paragon software partners page. (Don't have link)
The software might be free for you depending on your status here or elsewhere (if you have at least 50k points here or are an MVP, or several other designations) check out the paragon software partners page. (Don't have link)
ASKER
Awesome response Lee. You guys are on a fire today.
1. My colleague just told me that the server is RAID1 configured. I don't know how the RAIDs work but the main disk is fine. How do I check for the mirror to see if it is working as it should.
2. I have not thought about the hackability of the unsupported OS. I just thought that since we never use/needed Microsoft support we can carry on using that OS till end of the year. Now I am new to my role and am responsible for the technical team here and I am trying to bring improvements so your advice is very useful. Is it a known thing that when support stops hacking those systems increases? The cost of the site being down for a week is unthinkable!! I am wondering how difficult it is upgrading to win server 2012 (not worrying about the money, just getting it wrong, breaking the site). Is it as easy as upgrading a PC OS?
3. a) is what I have been considering b)not too keen, we need the logs, like you said not ideal c) sounds very workable and may do that now even if I still pursue a).
Thanks for the great advice
1. My colleague just told me that the server is RAID1 configured. I don't know how the RAIDs work but the main disk is fine. How do I check for the mirror to see if it is working as it should.
2. I have not thought about the hackability of the unsupported OS. I just thought that since we never use/needed Microsoft support we can carry on using that OS till end of the year. Now I am new to my role and am responsible for the technical team here and I am trying to bring improvements so your advice is very useful. Is it a known thing that when support stops hacking those systems increases? The cost of the site being down for a week is unthinkable!! I am wondering how difficult it is upgrading to win server 2012 (not worrying about the money, just getting it wrong, breaking the site). Is it as easy as upgrading a PC OS?
3. a) is what I have been considering b)not too keen, we need the logs, like you said not ideal c) sounds very workable and may do that now even if I still pursue a).
Thanks for the great advice
ASKER
Cheers for the info Thomas Zucker-Scharff. I have 290,686 points :-)
They don't give Dell servers for free do they :-)
They don't give Dell servers for free do they :-)
@gbzhhu
Unfortunately no to dell servers. Get all v versions of the software and then use the premium edition. I use it to schedule backups of my server. Paragon-software is s leader in the field. Since you may need to change oses anyway, note that the software also has a wizard to move from one OS to another.
Unfortunately no to dell servers. Get all v versions of the software and then use the premium edition. I use it to schedule backups of my server. Paragon-software is s leader in the field. Since you may need to change oses anyway, note that the software also has a wizard to move from one OS to another.
Those are old drives in the server and I don't know if they even make ultra320 SCSI drives anymore.
If the skillset and infrastructure was available I would virtualize the server. You can tell Windows to use NTFS compression on the log directories which will help a lot. Log files tend to compress well. The server should be monitored for low drive space. I use Ipsentry to do this in my environment. Old log files should be manually or automatically removed.
I have some old drives that should work if you want to move the files to another drive. Just pay shipping and handling.
If the skillset and infrastructure was available I would virtualize the server. You can tell Windows to use NTFS compression on the log directories which will help a lot. Log files tend to compress well. The server should be monitored for low drive space. I use Ipsentry to do this in my environment. Old log files should be manually or automatically removed.
I have some old drives that should work if you want to move the files to another drive. Just pay shipping and handling.
So I am back. You ask why would it be necessary to have two drives? - for redundancy purpose. If one fails the other one continues working. And the failed one can be replaced without turning down the server. They are hot pluggable. Bad that you have SCSI drives because they are expensive. You need to give a call to HO and aks for prices. Maybe you can out there SATA drives instead of SCSI drives. Ask HP if it is doable with this server.
Once you get the drives take backup of existing configuration and replace the drives, boot the server from Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15 Recovery CD and perform restore.
Reboot to Windows. Douring restore you can allocate the new space to C drive and create an additional partition for page file.
To get the software for free from Paragon fill up this form: http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/ptac/register.html
Once you get the drives take backup of existing configuration and replace the drives, boot the server from Paragon Hard Disk Manager 15 Recovery CD and perform restore.
Reboot to Windows. Douring restore you can allocate the new space to C drive and create an additional partition for page file.
To get the software for free from Paragon fill up this form: http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/ptac/register.html
I am going to suggest hiring a local professional that can make sure that the server is properly backed up and to add drives as necessary. Sorry but I don't think that this is something I would let a developer or even a junior systems administrator handle. The downside risk is too high. I also would not consider swapping drives. Add additional drives and move the log files, but leave the original drives alone.
Well, once configured the backup runs itself. All he needs to do is to check from time to time if all ok. Hiring someone for this purpose only is too much.
Swapping the drives is also not a problrm if first the manual is read.
Swapping the drives is also not a problrm if first the manual is read.
Talk about the textbook need for virtualization. This system is Win2K3 with SCSI drives so can't possibly be all that fast. Why not install the VM package of your choice on a system with your 100GB RAID-protected storage and migrate it there?
You can even spoof the MAC address of the virtual machine to match whatever MAC address you currently have. Then you'll never have to worry about busting out of this system. (Or add extra NICs as necessary if this server does a lot of network I/O)
You can even spoof the MAC address of the virtual machine to match whatever MAC address you currently have. Then you'll never have to worry about busting out of this system. (Or add extra NICs as necessary if this server does a lot of network I/O)
You can swap the disks one at a time for bigger ones, then expand the logical disk and finally expand the C: drive using offline tools. You will probably have to buy refurbished disks, 300GB ones are about €300 each, 72GB ones are only €50 each. You would probably also have to buy a new battery for your RAID controller, you can check the state of the current one using the ACU under start-progs-HP system tools.
ASKER
What an amazing help I have had. Here was me thinking a month ago that I don't need this EE account and want to close it. Glad I didn't.
Just had a meeting with my MD and he said we could consider using Amazon Cloud for the new rewrite project and asked me what impact would that have with the advice I have been given here. My take is that we could possibly start using the Amazon cloud server now instead of waiting for the New project and move the current site to Amazon, But who am I to say I know I know stuff.
What do you great people think?
Just had a meeting with my MD and he said we could consider using Amazon Cloud for the new rewrite project and asked me what impact would that have with the advice I have been given here. My take is that we could possibly start using the Amazon cloud server now instead of waiting for the New project and move the current site to Amazon, But who am I to say I know I know stuff.
What do you great people think?
ASKER
dlethe,
How will a virtualization help? I thought virtualization would be good for a server which will be used by many sites or used for many purposes. This server is dedicated to one site
How will a virtualization help? I thought virtualization would be good for a server which will be used by many sites or used for many purposes. This server is dedicated to one site
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andyalder,
Thank you. 300GB for 300EU is cheap. I would pay 300EU for non refurbished 100GB one
Also regarding the ACU for battery check - I only see this info when I open Array Configuration Utility 7.40.8.0
Smart Array 6i Controller in Embedded Slot
Parallel SCSI Array A
36.4 GB Parallel SCSI Drive at Port 1 : SCSI ID 0
36.4 GB Parallel SCSI Drive at Port 1 : SCSI ID 1
Logical Drive 1 ( 34727 MB, RAID 1+0 )
Thank you. 300GB for 300EU is cheap. I would pay 300EU for non refurbished 100GB one
Also regarding the ACU for battery check - I only see this info when I open Array Configuration Utility 7.40.8.0
Smart Array 6i Controller in Embedded Slot
Parallel SCSI Array A
36.4 GB Parallel SCSI Drive at Port 1 : SCSI ID 0
36.4 GB Parallel SCSI Drive at Port 1 : SCSI ID 1
Logical Drive 1 ( 34727 MB, RAID 1+0 )
I believe your particular situation is well suited for moving to amazon. Do use the paragon software to make a copy of your server to be migrated to the cloud.
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If you have any SAN resources available, you could attach the SAN to your web server and store the log files on the SAN. I did something similar with a physical database server and I needed a larger or faster drive for log files so I moved the log files to the SAN while I kept the database files and OS on the local disk.
The paragon software will P2V it for you.
ASKER
Guys,
Thank you so much for your assistance. I am really humbled by your wonderful responses.
We decided to go to Amazon. MD wants to "just use Amazon" for this as well as future projects. I am insisting that we need training to take advantage of the platform rather than just get by to use the basics. I hear Amazon is huge.
Now the points. 500 is certainly not enough to share. Am I allowed here at EE to pass my points to experts? You all provided great answers, some more detailed than others. I am at a loss of what to do!
Thank you so much for your assistance. I am really humbled by your wonderful responses.
We decided to go to Amazon. MD wants to "just use Amazon" for this as well as future projects. I am insisting that we need training to take advantage of the platform rather than just get by to use the basics. I hear Amazon is huge.
Now the points. 500 is certainly not enough to share. Am I allowed here at EE to pass my points to experts? You all provided great answers, some more detailed than others. I am at a loss of what to do!
You can accept one answer with points and share points for others as assisted.
As for moving to Amazon. You are completely right with the training. I would insist on it as well. Then you make less mistakes later.
As for moving to Amazon. You are completely right with the training. I would insist on it as well. Then you make less mistakes later.
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I had the best assistance I could wish for. Thank you guys
Take a screen shot of it and post it here.
I want first to see if there is any way to extend the system partition. If not then you have to replace the drive with bigger one or virtualize this server so that it works as a virtual machine where you can give is as much space as your host machine allows.