sglee
asked on
RAID Configuration
Hi,
I have a new server (to be 2016 Hyper-V server) with 128GB of RAM and eleven 600GB 15K 12Gbps SAS hard drives on LSI Megaraid 12Gbps SAS/SATA controller. I am going to migrate a stand-alone SBS2011(Exchange 2010) as virtual machine and set up several more VMs such as Window 2016 Terminal Servers and others.
I like to dedicate two of 1 or 2 hard drives as global hot spare.
For space consideration, I like to set up RAID 5.
For performance, I like to do RAID 10 and this has been my preference in the past. But only get 50% of total space.
I need about 1.5TB for SBS2011 and plan on assigning 100-200GB to two terminal servers and other VMs in the future.
(1) What kind of RAID (5 or 10) would you do?
(2) Does RAID 5 is that much slower than RAID 10 in terms of performance?
(3) Should I create partition on RAID BIOS or on Raid management software on Windows 2016 server?
I have a new server (to be 2016 Hyper-V server) with 128GB of RAM and eleven 600GB 15K 12Gbps SAS hard drives on LSI Megaraid 12Gbps SAS/SATA controller. I am going to migrate a stand-alone SBS2011(Exchange 2010) as virtual machine and set up several more VMs such as Window 2016 Terminal Servers and others.
I like to dedicate two of 1 or 2 hard drives as global hot spare.
For space consideration, I like to set up RAID 5.
For performance, I like to do RAID 10 and this has been my preference in the past. But only get 50% of total space.
I need about 1.5TB for SBS2011 and plan on assigning 100-200GB to two terminal servers and other VMs in the future.
(1) What kind of RAID (5 or 10) would you do?
(2) Does RAID 5 is that much slower than RAID 10 in terms of performance?
(3) Should I create partition on RAID BIOS or on Raid management software on Windows 2016 server?
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It is possible with conventional and UEFI BIOS, if your RAID controller allows you to split your array into 2 separate Volumes. Create the first volume as a small 100GB Volume, and the other Volume for the rest. You then install the OS to the first volume (it will be seen as a single 100GB disk). Once the OS is installed make your 2nd volume, which will also be seen as a single disk, a GPT disk, and after that you can use all the space for your data partition within diskmanagement.
ASKER
"if your computer BIOS is supporting UEFI type partition, switch to UEFI and then create one volume under Raid Array BIOS and start windows installation." -->
I think this new INTEL server does allow UEFI. I will call Intel tech support for assistance. Let me report back.
I think this new INTEL server does allow UEFI. I will call Intel tech support for assistance. Let me report back.
Don't have to call,, just go to BIOS and check under storage if you can switch to UEFI
ASKER
Let me try to change to UEFI. Will be back.
You don't need UEFI if you can split the array into volumes. UEFI is only needed if you are forced to present the whole array to the OS as a single disk. In that case you would need to install the OS to a GPT disk for it to be able to use the space above 2TB. But if you can split it into 2 separate "disks" your boot disk can be an MBR disk and then you can use a conventional BIOS. UEFI doesn't have much added value and makes things more complicated than necessary, so if you can set the BIOS to conventional mode I would use that.
@rindi
That's he want to do... READ WHOLE QUESTION
That's he want to do... READ WHOLE QUESTION
I would prefer to see C drive with 2.8TB so that I can keep both 2016 OS and virtual machines in one large drive. But I don't know if it is possible.
ASKER
@rindi
it is good to know that I may not need UEFI if I can split the array into volumes. But as @Tom indicated, I would prefer to use all 2.8TB as one drive/partition. For me it looks simpler instead of C drive with OS and E drive as data ... etc. unless you see a problem with this idea.
it is good to know that I may not need UEFI if I can split the array into volumes. But as @Tom indicated, I would prefer to use all 2.8TB as one drive/partition. For me it looks simpler instead of C drive with OS and E drive as data ... etc. unless you see a problem with this idea.
It's not how I would do it. Partitioning is no good in my point of view, You are more flexible using virtual disks than when you use partitions, particularly in virtual environments. Particularly for the VM's you should always use a virtual disk for the OS, and another virtual disk for the VM's data. That way it is easier in the future if you have to resize something. For the Host OS that may not matter as much, but why not use good practice there as well and adopt this for all future installations.
ASKER
Update: After changing the setting from Legacy to UEFI in BIOS, I called Intel tech support.
They walked me thru the process of installing Windows 2012 server via UEFI shell commands. It was pretty cool way of running the setup program BOOTX64.EFI located in fs0:\EFI\BOOT\ folder. And Yes I was able to install OS in 2.78TB partition. Thank you.
Intel support suggested that I create two RAID arrarys - first array for OS (raid 1) and second array for Data (raid 10 using remaining HDs). I told him that I used to do that in the past because I learned it that way back in the days - Keep OS separate from data at all cost, but not sure if it matters that much anymore as these HDs are 15k, 12Gbps speed on superfast HD Controller and new generation of multiple CPUs on MB.
In recent years, I simply create a single RAID array and one drive letter "C drive". In it, I create a folder "C:\Data" and store all user folders/files underneath. It is simple to back up & restore and every inch of hard drive space is utilized.
Having said that, I am sure there are experts who disagree with my approach and I like to hear your argument.
They walked me thru the process of installing Windows 2012 server via UEFI shell commands. It was pretty cool way of running the setup program BOOTX64.EFI located in fs0:\EFI\BOOT\ folder. And Yes I was able to install OS in 2.78TB partition. Thank you.
Intel support suggested that I create two RAID arrarys - first array for OS (raid 1) and second array for Data (raid 10 using remaining HDs). I told him that I used to do that in the past because I learned it that way back in the days - Keep OS separate from data at all cost, but not sure if it matters that much anymore as these HDs are 15k, 12Gbps speed on superfast HD Controller and new generation of multiple CPUs on MB.
In recent years, I simply create a single RAID array and one drive letter "C drive". In it, I create a folder "C:\Data" and store all user folders/files underneath. It is simple to back up & restore and every inch of hard drive space is utilized.
Having said that, I am sure there are experts who disagree with my approach and I like to hear your argument.
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@rindi
"if in the future you find that C is too small, you can just add space to it and then expand C in diskmanagement. " --> I like to make sure that I understand ... Say I created RAID 1 with two hard drives (just for OS) and down the road, I am running out of space. Are you saying that we could just add more disks to existing RAID 1 array and increase the space without breaking existing raid 1 completely and having to reinstall OS from the scratch?
"if in the future you find that C is too small, you can just add space to it and then expand C in diskmanagement. " --> I like to make sure that I understand ... Say I created RAID 1 with two hard drives (just for OS) and down the road, I am running out of space. Are you saying that we could just add more disks to existing RAID 1 array and increase the space without breaking existing raid 1 completely and having to reinstall OS from the scratch?
If the RAID controller is up to it, you can add new disks to the controller, then migrate your array of RAID 1 to another, for example RAID 6. Or you can replace one disk with a larger disk, wait for it to sync, then do the same for the other old disk, and when it has synced too, you can extend the array to use the full space of the new array.
Or if your original controller is using all the disks in RAID 6, and you have split the array into one small volume for the OS, and another large volume for the data, you can add a new or several new disks to the controller, and then you can extend your array, and after that you can select which of the volumes should use how much of the additional space.
But again, it depends on the capabilities of the RAID controller.
Once that is done, you can just go into diskmanagement and expand the virtual disk to use the additional space.
All that can be done without even having to boot the server.
Or if your original controller is using all the disks in RAID 6, and you have split the array into one small volume for the OS, and another large volume for the data, you can add a new or several new disks to the controller, and then you can extend your array, and after that you can select which of the volumes should use how much of the additional space.
But again, it depends on the capabilities of the RAID controller.
Once that is done, you can just go into diskmanagement and expand the virtual disk to use the additional space.
All that can be done without even having to boot the server.
ASKER
Upon the review of what was said, I think I will create two separate raid arrays.
(1) Raid 1 for Windows 2016/Hyper-V OS
(2) Raid 10 for all virtual machines.
Also I am going to allocate two hard drives as global hot spares.
@Tom,
Thank you for your help in learning how to use UEFI mode to set up single volume greater than 2TB.
@rindi,
Thanks for raid recommendation.
(1) Raid 1 for Windows 2016/Hyper-V OS
(2) Raid 10 for all virtual machines.
Also I am going to allocate two hard drives as global hot spares.
@Tom,
Thank you for your help in learning how to use UEFI mode to set up single volume greater than 2TB.
@rindi,
Thanks for raid recommendation.
ASKER
So let's focus on RAID 10. Say I created a RAID 10 in RAID BIOS that will generate about 2.8GB(600GB x 5 HDs) with one HD as hot spare.
What is the best way to accomplish my goals:
(1) Allocate 100GB of space to Windows 2016 OS / HyperV. In OS, when I click "My Computer", I would see "C Drive" with 100GB total space.
(2) Allocate 2.7TB for virtual machines. When I click "My Computer", I would see "E Drive" with 2.7TB total space.
I would prefer to see C drive with 2.8TB so that I can keep both 2016 OS and virtual machines in one large drive. But I don't know if it is possible.