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Support for on-line RAID5-10 migration on H700
Our client has a T610 with an H700 integrated controller running as a VMware 5.5 host server He currently has 6 drives in a single RAID5 array. The current RAID5 LUN uses up all available space, although the actual allocated storage is a lot less.
We're changing the function of the server significantly, adding a major database app. As part of that, I want to add a couple more drives and convert the array to a pair of 4-drive RAID10 arrays.
I don't want to go into details of allocated space, LUN size, etc., here -- we can handle that. My question is, if the allocated space fits target array size can I do this migration online?
Key questions:
- can I reduce the size of the RAID5 LUN at all, or to anywhere approaching actual allocated space?
- can I convert the RAID5 array to RAID10 -- again, assuming allocated space fits?
- would I be better off first adding the additional drives and converting it to an 8-drive RAID10 array, and then splitting it into two 4-drive arrays?
- what specific Dell server management software needs to be installed? Or can this only be done at BIOS boot time?
Obviously I'm going to do backups first!
-- Ken
theflash1932
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July 6th, 2015 11:00
As far as the hardware-managed VD's (arrays/LUN's) go:
You can never "shrink" an array by either reducing the number of disks or the allocated space.
Controllers do not support migrating TO or FROM nested RAID levels (10/50/50) ... for example, you cannot add two disks to a 4-disk RAID 10 either.
If you plan to move to a RAID 10 (which I wholeheartedly support), then you will need to backup the current data and restore to the new array.
wallewek
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July 7th, 2015 10:00
Thank you, that's what I needed to know.