Moving RAID1 to RAID5

[technical1]

Good morning,
I have a database server running windows 2000/sql 2000.
The hardware is a DL380 G1 with 2x18.2GB hard drives, 3200 smart array controller.

The two hard drives are configured for mirroring (raid1).

I will be adding an additional 18.2GB hard drive to the server. Would i able to somehow change the raid level without reinstalling the OS etc.

Regards,
Vinay

 

[ntinlin]

If I remember correctly the 3200 will allow you to change the RAID level from 1 to 5.

 

[technical1]

Hi ntinlin,
Would you happen to know the migration process for raid1 to raid5?

Also the extra hard drive space, could i include this on my present D:\ partition?

regards,
vinay

 

[ntinlin]

Put extra drive in then look in the Array Config Util under Drive migrate RAID / stripe size.

Extra space you would use to expand an existing array. However if you are running with W2K you will get all sorts of warning messages.

I've never done the migrate myself, only the expand but it was a while ago.

If I remember correctly W2K did actually pick up the extra space on the array despite the warnings and said I could add it to an existing volume but only by converting it to a dynamic disk and spanning it.
Think I used Symantec Volume Manager or Acronis Partition Expert to extend the partition outside of Windows.

 

[rwullems]

Hi,

If you would like to replace the mirror (Raid 1) with a Raid 5 solution using your three disks, using the 3200 controller, it will not work. For Raid 5, as you probably know, the data is moved completely different accross the three drives. After you reconfigure the controller from raid 1 to raid 5. all data is gone because you actually made a hardware change and everything is build op new again.

I have never seen a hardware controller that can change from Raid 1 to Raid 5 without loosing the data on the disk. If i am wrong, please correct me.
Regards,
Robert



Robert Wullems
Network Specialist
SCP/SCE/SCM/CNX/MCP/MCSA/Network+
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[ntinlin]

Can't say you are wrong because I have never actually tried it. However it would seem a bit stupid to offer the option in the controller if it couldn't be done without losing data.

If it did then it would be the same effect as removing the RAID 1 array and adding a new RAID 5 array.

Might have to give it a try now if I can find a spare 3200 controller.

 

[sandav92]

It works in Novell and worked in Windows NT. But in 2000 it is and can be data destructive. When I worked at Compaq we tried this several times and it was about 50 50 on working or not. We complianed to the Engineers for the controllers and this was never changed. It is unsupported and is purelly a crap shoot.