How do I add a new disk to an existing RAID 5 array??

[kkkk1]

Hi,

We have a Dell Poweredge 2600 Server with 3x 73Gb SCSI drives in a RAID 5 array. We now need more space and so need to add another disk. The question is:-

 

Can I just put a new 73Gb SCSI drive in as a spare and allocate more space to the exisitng array or do I need to break the array and re-create it with a 4th disk?

 

Many thanks.

[Geoff]

1. Backup your server.

2. Recreate the RAID array including the new disk

3. Restore your server.

[kkkk1]

Many thanks.

[ajbritton]

Some RAID controllers do allow you to add storage 'on the fly', but I'm not sure if the PERC 4 in the PowerEdge 2600 can do this.

[Geoff]

You also have the added problem of resizing the filesystem.

[steveg]

Have a look here http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=pes_hardrive&thread.id=25663

 

Steve

[kkkk1]

Many thanks for all your responses. I'm on the case again.

[ajbritton]

So basically, the sequence is

 

1 - Add the extra drive

2 - Expand the virtual hard disk to use the drive (wait for rebuild)

3 - Reboot to Safe mode and expand the last partition

[zag]

Some of the newer 3Ware cards have the expand feature, but personally I would not trust it Backup everything, wipe it, then re-create the new array.

[ajbritton]

If you are in doubt about the ability of the Dell PERC controller to succesfully expand the array, why not have a look at the Dell forums and/or post a question there?

 

I think you have to balance the risk against the amount of work it might entail. If the server is just a file server and the expand fails, then a restore is not that much of a problem. If the server is the sole DC, DHCP, DNS and everything else, then you obviously want to take as many precautions as possible. If it's the sole DNS, then I would consider making a virtual DC on another machine, as a restore if the AD is kept online.

[kkkk1]

Thanks very much for all your help people.

 

Kind regards.