Anyone Moved a Raid array.

K.C.Leblanc · 15-11-2007, 10:21 AM

Hiya,

The onboard RAID controller on one of our servers has died. Since the server is 3 years old we were considering replacing it. The data drives are in a Raid 5 array. How easy would it be to move the drives to a new server? I'm consurned I couldn't get the new server to detect the drivers as already being setup in a RAID.

Anyone done this before?

Geoff · 15-11-2007, 10:24 AM

If you need to salvage the data in the array, you will need an identical raid controller (preferably the same firmware version too). As the server is so old, your best bet is ebay.

If you don't care about what's on the drive, just shove the new hardware in and setup from scratch. It should all work fine.

contink · 15-11-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K.C.Leblanc

How easy would it be to move the drives to a new server? I'm consurned I couldn't get the new server to detect the drivers as already being setup in a RAID.

Anyone done this before?

I had this happen when we lost our motherboard thanks to the mother of all zorches.

As Geoff said, ebay is your best bet or look out for possible returned but working versions of the same motherboard. Making sure they are the exact same motherboard helps enormously as the RAID should be the same (was in my case)..

Butuz · 15-11-2007, 10:47 AM

You cant move an array from one type of raid card to another, but you should be able to if you use the same raid cards in both servers - well I've never seen it done anyway - wouldnt mind being corrected though?

Butuz

Geoff · 15-11-2007, 10:54 AM

In one of my old jobs the servers were on a 5 year maintenance contract. We had several raid cards go bang. As I explained, as long as you used an identical raid card, the repairs went fine.

K.C.Leblanc · 15-11-2007, 01:29 PM

Thanks for everyone's input. At the point where I posted we weren't sure if it had died before of after last nights backup.

We've restored the data from tape onto our print server. Hopefully we'll be getting a new server.

Dos_Box · 15-11-2007, 01:59 PM

Incedentaaly, what RAID controller was it? I may have a spare.

Oops_my_bad · 15-11-2007, 02:02 PM

Damn, i feel sorry for your print server

K.C.Leblanc · 15-11-2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dos_Box

Incedentaaly, what RAID controller was it? I may have a spare.

It's on the motherboard, so we're a bit consurned about the future health of the server.

We were a bit panicy when I first posted. It's our Sims server........

........ and OFSTED are in. :cry:

contink · 15-11-2007, 06:48 PM

Ouch!... Never rains when it pours eh?

Just a thought but one thing I've started doing is using off motherboard RAID cards so that if the worst happens I can always replace the card and not the board or vice versa.

What was the motherboard out of interest?

Oops_my_bad · 15-11-2007, 06:52 PM

I've recently made this mistake with an IBM server I bought - they always used to be hardware RAID but now apparently the IBM controllers are sort of half motherboard and half software. It's a crock of shyte because now Linux takes over the whole RAID thing rather than letting the controller do it.

Welcome, Register for free! or Login below:
User Name		Remember Me?
Password

15-11-2007, 10:21 AM	#1
K.C.Leblanc Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rural heck Posts: 499 Thanks: 11 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts Rep Power: 7	Anyone Moved a Raid array. Hiya, The onboard RAID controller on one of our servers has died. Since the server is 3 years old we were considering replacing it. The data drives are in a Raid 5 array. How easy would it be to move the drives to a new server? I'm consurned I couldn't get the new server to detect the drivers as already being setup in a RAID. Anyone done this before?

15-11-2007, 10:24 AM	#2
Geoff Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fylde, Lancs, UK. Posts: 9,934 Thanks: 42 Thanked 230 Times in 209 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 67	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. If you need to salvage the data in the array, you will need an identical raid controller (preferably the same firmware version too). As the server is so old, your best bet is ebay. If you don't care about what's on the drive, just shove the new hardware in and setup from scratch. It should all work fine.

15-11-2007, 10:47 AM	#4
Butuz Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cardiff, UK Posts: 500 Thanks: 34 Thanked 21 Times in 14 Posts Rep Power: 9	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. You cant move an array from one type of raid card to another, but you should be able to if you use the same raid cards in both servers - well I've never seen it done anyway - wouldnt mind being corrected though? Butuz

15-11-2007, 10:54 AM	#5
Geoff Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Fylde, Lancs, UK. Posts: 9,934 Thanks: 42 Thanked 230 Times in 209 Posts Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 67	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. In one of my old jobs the servers were on a 5 year maintenance contract. We had several raid cards go bang. As I explained, as long as you used an identical raid card, the repairs went fine.

		EduGeek.net Forums > Technical > Hardware
Anyone Moved a Raid array.

15-11-2007, 01:29 PM	#6
K.C.Leblanc Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rural heck Posts: 499 Thanks: 11 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts Rep Power: 7	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. Thanks for everyone's input. At the point where I posted we weren't sure if it had died before of after last nights backup. We've restored the data from tape onto our print server. Hopefully we'll be getting a new server.

15-11-2007, 01:59 PM	#7
Dos_Box Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Preston, Lancashire Posts: 3,714 Thanks: 7 Thanked 132 Times in 61 Posts Blog Entries: 6 Rep Power: 41	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. Incedentaaly, what RAID controller was it? I may have a spare.

15-11-2007, 02:02 PM	#8
Oops_my_bad Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I'll be back in Madchester before you knows it Posts: 1,243 Thanks: 153 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts Rep Power: 11	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. Damn, i feel sorry for your print server

15-11-2007, 06:48 PM	#10
contink Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 2,810 Thanks: 108 Thanked 109 Times in 81 Posts Rep Power: 34	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. Ouch!... Never rains when it pours eh? Just a thought but one thing I've started doing is using off motherboard RAID cards so that if the worst happens I can always replace the card and not the board or vice versa. What was the motherboard out of interest?

15-11-2007, 06:52 PM	#11
Oops_my_bad Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: I'll be back in Madchester before you knows it Posts: 1,243 Thanks: 153 Thanked 16 Times in 16 Posts Rep Power: 11	Re: Anyone Moved a Raid array. I've recently made this mistake with an IBM server I bought - they always used to be hardware RAID but now apparently the IBM controllers are sort of half motherboard and half software. It's a crock of shyte because now Linux takes over the whole RAID thing rather than letting the controller do it.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Sims moved to a new domain	edie209	MIS Systems	9	16-11-2007 07:22 PM
Anybody moved to WDS and ImageX yet?	Quackers	Windows	39	27-09-2007 01:53 PM
How do I add a new disk to an existing RAID 5 array??	kkkk1	Windows	10	13-09-2007 01:38 PM
12 bay esata storage array	fooby	Hardware	8	22-06-2007 08:35 PM
Recover data from broken RAID 0 array	indie	Hardware	23	08-02-2006 11:42 AM

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools	Search Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search Thread: Advanced Search

Register now for FREE and post messages!
Username: Password: Confirm Password: E-Mail: Confirm E-Mail: Birthday: Image Verification I agree to forum rules

Hardware forum sponsored by