Compaq ML370 creating RAID1 Question

[pbxman]

Sorry for posting here, but I need this answered asap and the compaq forums here seem to be dead. Anyway, here's my dillema..hopefully someone here has dome something like this before:

I have a single SCSI 18G HD running on the integrated SCSI controller in this server. I have 2 other 18G SCSI drives and a Smart Array controller..the controller is installed in the system.

Server is running NT4 Server SP6 and I need to create a RAID1 mirror without data loss and move it from the integrated controller over to the smart array controller.

Can I use the two blank 18G drives, create the mirror with them, then swap my currently configured 18GB drive onto the mirror and let it rebuild, or will I have to use the existing drive and let the controller wipe it out when creating the mirror and reinstall/reimage?

Basically - what can I do to get this non-raid 18GB drive onto the new array controller mirrored without loss of data?
Thanks

pbxman
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[mrdenny]

I would think that If you created a RAID 1 set, the dropped in the current single drive it would wipe the single drive when adding it into the set.

Here is an idea (I did some pookinga around on an NT 4 system, so it "should" work).

Create your hardware RAID 1 array.
Reboot so that Windows NT can see the new drive.
Use Disk Administrator to create a mirror from the Current single drive to the new RAID 1 array.
Give it a day to build and replicate.
Break the mirror and power down the server.
Remove the single drive from the server and put it somewhere safe.
Fire the server back up and have it boot from the RAID 1 array.

In theory it should work. It will probably be a little unhappy the first time it comes up since it will think the power was pulled, but after a reboot it should be fine.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[pbxman]

Thanks for the reply - thats not gonna fit in our situation. This needs to be done quickly as it's on a production system that *should* operate 24/7. Worst case is imaging the drive and having to restore it, but that takes a long time. If im going to lose the data when i create the mirror, i'll have to do that. Im just trying to figure out how else this can be done quickly and safely. Thanks for the heads-up though..im open for any ideas.

pbxman
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[MTVW]

I'm sure the integrated controller supports RAID right?
Why not configure a HW RAID set with the existing NT drive and the spare 18GB on the integrated....This would be for backup...just in case.. Then if you want to switch over to the SMART Create a RAID 1 set with the NT drive and the other spare 18GB. The ML drives should be hotswappable too. Makes it a little easier.
All of this can be done in the RAID utility.

 

[pbxman]

unfortunately no, the internal controller is just a standard scsi controller - no RAID.

pbxman
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