System partition incorrectly setup - can it be converted to raid1?

[burgemaster]

One of our physical 2008 r2 servers was setup with the o/s partition on one single drive when it should have been mirrored on 2 hdds !!

This should have been done in the raid controller before installation but either it was missed out or configured incorrectly, so now we the main c drive on one single disk and the 2nd disk sat doing nothing.

 

My question is, can the system partition be converted to raid1?

Dell says no?

 

Can anyone please advise?

Edited September 20, 2012 by burgemaster

[bossman]

@burgemaster:

 

This might help you: http://www.whiz-tech.com/blog/2011/12/22/how-to-convert-a-single-drive-microsoft-windows-system-to-raid-system/

 

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winservergen/thread/eb89dba7-6948-4e5e-9252-4fb2878b7b36/

 

 

And this for Linux: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Convert_a_single_drive_system_to_RAID

 

Have fun and let me know how you get on, BTW don't forget to backup the original system just in case.

Edited September 21, 2012 by bossman

[tmcd35]

The first question is, is this a DC? and if it is, can it be demoted? I'd never do ths with a live DC, AD would like get in a major grump. This is espeacilly true if it replicates with other DCs and if its an FSMO master. If have or can set up another DC while this is demoted, or if its not a DC, then you should be fine.

 

I'd ask if there is data on the same drive? Or is this just an OS? If its just an OS and not/no longer a DC why not just format and re-install? If theres any data involved make sure it well and truely backed up before doing anything.

 

If you cant just re-install the OS to RAID then next up I'd make sure the drivers for the RAID controller have been installed before going any further. Windows will more than likely BSOD if you try booting without them later. Get them on now so they are availabke when needed later.

 

Personally I'd use Clonezilla (Clonezilla - About) to copy the HD image to an external USB hard drive. Remove the OS hard drive from the server and restore the Clonezilla image to the blank hard drive. If the image restores without any problems and the computer boots then we're good to go.

 

Reconnect both drives, set up the RAID in the controllers BIOS abd restore the Clonezilla image to the new RAID volume. Job done. Only thing left would be to promote back to a DC if required.

 

Usual warning and get out of jail free: I'm not responsible if anything goes wrong, make sure you have a good DR plan, back up back up back up, and never do this to a live DC.

[burgemaster]

Thanks for replies....

It is a virtual host for 4 x Virtual Servers.

Will look into the suggestions! Holiday job!!

Thanks