Different HDD to rebuild raid

[dapaulio]

Good Morning Everyone

 

I'm sure I know the answer to this question but want to hear the opinions of my peers on this situation

 

I have a HP ProLiant DL380 G7 With 2 x 146GB 6G 10K SAS SFF drives setup in a Raid 1 configuration with server OS installed on it with HV role installed

Quickspec https://www.hpe.com/h20195/V2/Getdocument.aspx?docname=c04199811

 

Page 24 has the HDD

 

1 of the HDD have failed and requires replacing. Unfortunately the exact replacement is EOL and I can only get refurbs or ebay specials which I am not bothered about but only as a last resort. Iwould prefer brand new given it is a HV host

 

I would like your opinions which replacement HDD to rebuild the raid on. I understand that for instance if I install a 15k replacement or a larger drive. it will effectively down rate to the lowest spec but never been in a position where I have actually had to implement.

 

Anyone had any issues with mixed drives in a raid?

as there is a 15k 146GB available would you choose that over a 10k 300GB for example. or would you be happy with a refurb???

 

Thanks

[sted]

personally i think id be tempted to go for 2 10k 300gb drive replace the faulty one let the array settle down then replace the other so you have matched drives again (and more space) also new drives so less likely to fail its not set in stone but if one drive has failed theres a reasonable chance the other identical one may in the near future as well

 

ive run odd drives in an array before it shouldnt cause you a problem but its not ideal

[3s-gtech]

I've used refurbs, mismatched, lots of different permutations. Personally I'd do as suggested above - get 2 10k 300GB drives. I'd swap the faulty one out, but keep the other as a spare. Then when that begins to fail, or if your new drive develops an early fault, you have options. I'd guess that the space isn't important if it's just the hypervisor sitting on these.

[Boredguy]

If I could get a larger capacity but same spindle speed, it's ok. Not ideal, but ok

[PotNoodleTech]

personally i think id be tempted to go for 2 10k 300gb drive replace the faulty one let the array settle down then replace the other so you have matched drives again (and more space) also new drives so less likely to fail its not set in stone but if one drive has failed theres a reasonable chance the other identical one may in the near future as well

 

ive run odd drives in an array before it shouldnt cause you a problem but its not ideal

 

That would be the ideal option, but that may not work, depends on your raid controller. It may well format the new 300GB drive as a 146GB drive for the array to match, and then when you replace the second drive, it would format that down to 146GB too so you may end up with a pair of 300GB drives half full of wasted space. Depends on the expansion facility on your particular raid controller.

 

You do seem to be able to get new disks from some places still :

 

HP EG0146FAWHU - 146Gb 10k 2.5" SAS Disk Dual Port 6G

 

Disclaimer : I have not ever used that shop so have no idea whether they're any good, or if the drives are indeed brand new!

[dapaulio]

That would be the ideal option, but that may not work, depends on your raid controller. It may well format the new 300GB drive as a 146GB drive for the array to match, and then when you replace the second drive, it would format that down to 146GB too so you may end up with a pair of 300GB drives half full of wasted space. Depends on the expansion facility on your particular raid controller.

 

 

I’m of the same thought when suggested.

I guess you can expand the raid afterwards but I would be quite nervous as it is a system disk of a HV.

 

Question. would it be the same for spin speed. If i put a 15k in let it rebuild then another 15k in later would the raid config still down rate it to 10k???? Or will it be fully utilised

[PotNoodleTech]

Spin speed won't make any difference as when it writes it has to write data to both disks at exactly the same time so really your 15,000rpm drive will be sitting around a bit being written to at 10krpm speed. Not much you can do about that.

[dapaulio]

Sound like then the two 15k may be better option of them all.

 

I may be cheeky and ask for money to buy a new HV server [emoji108] due to incompatibility and now unsupported hardware [emoji6]