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Problem with creating a new partition

Hi,

I need advice from experts here.

We have a Windows Server 2012 file server with RAID 5 Array. It had 4 x 600GB drives and recently I have added 2 more 600GB drives to increased the volume. After added 2 drives and reintialised the RAID 5 array, I could see 2 x un-allocated spaces available in the disk management as in the first image attached here. Then I extended E:\ partition to the maximum of first allocated spaces as in the second image. Now I cannot do anything on the remaining un-allocated space available. All the sub menus are disabled as in the third image. Can anyone advice how I could create a new partition in the un-allocated space left?

Thanks in advance.
mcltech
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Kimputer

Basic MBR disk have indeed only 4 partitions. Upgrade to GPT style to have more partitions. However, depending on your BIOS, you might not be able to boot up your system (besides that moving from MBR to GPT requires an OUTSIDE Windows operation, like boot from special USB/DVD etc).
If you wanna play it safe, change partition sizes, instead of adding partitions.

mcltech

ASKER

Hi Kimputer,

How can change the partition size when extending the partition is disabled for all current partitions? please see the attached images.

Thanks,
mcltech
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Image-5.jpg
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SOLUTION

Kimputer

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mcltech

ASKER

Hi Kimputer,

So what would be the solutions for this?

Thanks,
mcltech

Kimputer

Old situation:

6 x 600 GB = 3600 GB
currently RAID 5 = 3000 GB

New solution

RAID 1 / 2 x 600 = effective 600 GB
RAID 5 / 4 x 600 = effective 1800 GB

Total effective 2400 GB

Sadly, less disk space available. Also, needs a lot of imaging and restoring (system disk main problem, data can be copied and restored).
Imaging works well on "real" RAID systems. With Windows Software raid, it's a bit more complicated (breaking the mirror, adding it, testing secundary plex boot)

mcltech

ASKER

Hi Kimputer,

If I backup all data, then if I reinstall OS, can I gain full capacity, if I recreate the RAID 5 array? If so what type of partitions do I need to create? Say I need to create 5 Partitions.

Thanks in advance.
mcltech

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

rindi

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mcltech

ASKER

Hi Rindi,

Thanks for your detail explanation and really appreciated it. My server is Dell PowerEdge R520 and I am pretty sure it has UEFI BIOS. So do I need to change from Normal to UEFI first, then remove RAID 5 array and recreate it?

Thanks in advance.
mcltech

rindi

Yes. But don't use RAID 5, since it is obsolete and unreliable. RAID 6 is the much better option. If your PERC controller I also suggest to create 2 RAID volumes, one small one for the OS, and one large one for the rest. It is better practice to separate the OS from the rest using RAID volumes or disks rather than using partitions. It makes management in the future easier. So since you have to start from the beginning anyway, you might as well do it properly.

mcltech

ASKER

Thanks Rindi,

Just one more query, as soon as I changed the BIOS to UEFI, does it change the disks to GPT, or do I need to do any settings changes?

Also do I need to download any drivers for the disks to implement this?

Thanks in advance.
mcltech

rindi

No, changing the BIOS doesn't change anything with the disk. But when you setup a new array, and then start the installation of the OS, it will automatically create a GPT disk when you select the new array to install on.

You need the same drivers which you used during the first installation. Normally when you use Dell's integrated lifecycle controller for the installation, drivers should be provided automatically, and you should also have a proper walkthrough to setup the array etc.

mcltech

ASKER

Thanks Rindi. Now I understand full process.

Finally thanks for both of you.

rindi

Have you successfully setup the server with the new disks?

mcltech

ASKER

Hi Rindi,
Yes, I have completed the rebuilding of the server with UEFI BIOS.

Many thanks for your support.
mcltech

mcltech

ASKER

Hi Rindi,

How can I close this question and offer points?

Thanks,
mcltech

mcltech

ASKER

Excellent support from both Rindi and Kimputer