ITIExperts1
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Windows Mirrored Raid - Failed HD *urgent*
I have a client who has a server 2008 box that was setup by a 1 man show a few years ago. The server handles A/D, DNS, DHCP, and print server/file sharing rolls. They cannot replace the server at this time. One of the primary hard drives has failed in the Mirror Raid. The raid was configured in Windows as a software raid.
I am not familiar with this setup personally. I also noticed they are using just WD Blue Desktop HD's. Since they can't afford to do much else but also can't afford to be down: I would at least like to replace the HD's with something better quality than a desktop HD. Probably a NAS rated disk.
The drives in the system are x2 1TB WD10EZEX drives. Drives 0 and 1. What I think needs to be done is unplug the bad drive and boot back into Server and break the mirror on the remaining drive, then put a new HD in to rebuild the mirror. I would like to rebuild to a 2TB drive, and then once done break the mirror to the other 1tb and replace that one with another 2TB so the new mirror will be better drives with more storage.
Can someone advise me if this is correct, if I need to do anything else special or if I am wrong all together? Keep in mind I am forced to work with what is available here. I Need to try and limit their downtime as much as possible and preserve the data so that we don't have to rebuild the entire system. Their primary data is on a NAS drive so that at least is not affected.
Thanks,
Dan
I am not familiar with this setup personally. I also noticed they are using just WD Blue Desktop HD's. Since they can't afford to do much else but also can't afford to be down: I would at least like to replace the HD's with something better quality than a desktop HD. Probably a NAS rated disk.
The drives in the system are x2 1TB WD10EZEX drives. Drives 0 and 1. What I think needs to be done is unplug the bad drive and boot back into Server and break the mirror on the remaining drive, then put a new HD in to rebuild the mirror. I would like to rebuild to a 2TB drive, and then once done break the mirror to the other 1tb and replace that one with another 2TB so the new mirror will be better drives with more storage.
Can someone advise me if this is correct, if I need to do anything else special or if I am wrong all together? Keep in mind I am forced to work with what is available here. I Need to try and limit their downtime as much as possible and preserve the data so that we don't have to rebuild the entire system. Their primary data is on a NAS drive so that at least is not affected.
Thanks,
Dan
ASKER
If I break the raid, upgrade to a 2tb drive, then re:break the raid once its rebuilt and replace the other 2tb drive, could I then extend the partition? My fear of getting another 1tb drive is if they are less than the current size it won't work, I have heard that each 1TB drive/brand is different and since I am going with a different brand to get a better quality drive for them I don't want this to cause a problem.
From the sound of it though, I was on the right track, Can you confirm if they can continue to use the server for print/ad rolls while it's rebuilding the new mirror?
From the sound of it though, I was on the right track, Can you confirm if they can continue to use the server for print/ad rolls while it's rebuilding the new mirror?
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I would do the RE4 before doing any desktop grade drive.
It has a 5 year warranty,a higher MTBF,higher spindle speed,and better ECC
At $50 bucks per I would get two and replace them both.
It has a 5 year warranty,a higher MTBF,higher spindle speed,and better ECC
At $50 bucks per I would get two and replace them both.
ASKER
I noticed in the BIOS that Intel Rapid Storage was switched to ON. I could not find anywhere in the BIOS or the system that showed me any additional information about this raid setup/utility. Is this something I need to worry about? I noticed when I unplugged the bad HD the system would only boot to the bios and wouldn't boot to the OS or anything near it. Do I need to break the mirror before I remove the bad HD?
You should be able change the disk you want to boot to in the BIOS. Then your OS should still boot even without the bad disk inserted (provided the RAID was properly setup in the first place). Most Intel controllers are mere fake-RAID controllers. If yours is a fake-RAID controller, then it is much better to use Windows integrated RAID. It is far more reliable and performs better. If the disks are connected to that controller, you should be able to change it's setup to use AHCI. If the disks aren't connected to the RAID controller, it shouldn't matter if it is set to on or off in the BIOS.
Then reestablish the mirror.
It will only use 1 tb of the new disk,so you will lose some capacity.
Personally I would get a real server drive like their RE4's or Hitachi Ultrastar
A 1 tb re4 is under $50 bucks
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA5AD4WA8841&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleMKP-PC-_-pla-_-Hard+Drives-_-9SIA5AD4WA8841&gclid=CLDu2vL1mdACFUlNfgodzsEJ2g&gclsrc=aw.ds
And get a good verified backup first!