No raid on server

[nicholab]

Hi I found out my one of my file servers does not have hardware raid on it it has a single drive for the os and a 73GB and 146GB in a raid 0 for the data. What is the best way of getting to a proper raid config. I was thinking of installling a raid 5 then mirroring to this driver? The other idea I had was to settup the raid volume then restore the data. I just can't believe how it has been setup

[GlennT]

If you want to set up a raid 5 array for your file data, you will need a minimum of 3 drives all the same size.

see this for more info RAID - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[nicholab]

Got the 3 drive no raid card.

[FN-GM]

what type of drives are they?

[nicholab]

I don't have a problem setting up raid on a new server but it is how I get there from my existing setup. The drive are dell SCSI 146GB 10K 80pin hot swaps the server is PE1800. The OS is windows 2K3 and the current span is done in windows over a 146GB and a 73GB.

[Guest blacksheep]

Software Raid aint too bad in Windows server, h/w is better though.

 

you would have to get all the data on one drive (the system drive) and then reconfigure it and let it rebuild. This is fairly straightforward and it exactly how depends on what raid card you have.

In windows s/w raid you make all the drives dynamic with the same size partitions and set it up from there. I think windows does raid 5 as well, definately raid 1 miirroring

 

Eitherway it would be a good idea to have all the data backed up before you start

[GlennT]

Do a full backup including system state, use the smaller drive for system/ C: and build a raid 5 array using the 146gb drives [pretty sure you can do this in disk management]. Restore the data and system state and you are away!

[zag]

I tend to have single drives for the OS on my servers and raid 5 for the data drives.

 

It can sometimes be quicker installing an OS again rather than sorting out raid problems.

[Guest blacksheep]

That last point was definite true for a Proliant ML150 I just setup! (SATA Raid). Horrible raid device on those. Have ML370s with smart raid and they are great!

 

good luck! too hot to do it today though