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March 19th, 2005 23:00
Safely splitting bootable RAID 1?
Is there any way to split a RAID 1 array without loosing data?
I've got a Dimension 8400, with 2x160GB drives, factory configured as a RAID 1 array. The array is my only bootable volume. I need two drives, and bought the system this way because Dell only seems to sell two drive 8400's set up as a RAID. The advice I got here prior to purchase was to choose RAID 1, since it could be split latter without data loss.
From reading the forums, it seems like there are two approaches to splitting the RAID:
1. Intel application accelerator. I tried using this program, but it won't allow me to split the array because it's a system volume.
2. RAID BIOS utility. I snooped around in this, but the "Reset disk to non-RAID" option warns that all data will be lost.
Any advice here? Is it possible to split a RAID 1 into 2 bootable disks without data loss? Or do I need to install a THIRD disk, install a system on it, copy all my data, then split the array? Feeling paranoid here, and don't want to trash my system.
I've got a Dimension 8400, with 2x160GB drives, factory configured as a RAID 1 array. The array is my only bootable volume. I need two drives, and bought the system this way because Dell only seems to sell two drive 8400's set up as a RAID. The advice I got here prior to purchase was to choose RAID 1, since it could be split latter without data loss.
From reading the forums, it seems like there are two approaches to splitting the RAID:
1. Intel application accelerator. I tried using this program, but it won't allow me to split the array because it's a system volume.
2. RAID BIOS utility. I snooped around in this, but the "Reset disk to non-RAID" option warns that all data will be lost.
Any advice here? Is it possible to split a RAID 1 into 2 bootable disks without data loss? Or do I need to install a THIRD disk, install a system on it, copy all my data, then split the array? Feeling paranoid here, and don't want to trash my system.
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shesagordie
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March 20th, 2005 00:00
ph43drus.
ph43drus
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March 20th, 2005 10:00
I think I'm looking at the option that you're talking about; it's labeled "Reset Disk to Non-RAID". This gives me a warning about data loss; but is that a generic warning because reseting a RAID O volume *would* cause data loss, even though RAID 1 will be OK?
Sorry to worry so, but I'm (obviously) nervous about this.
TomXPS
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March 20th, 2005 12:00
I have broken the RAID 1 volume twice with no data loose. The message says the RAID volume data will be lost wihich is a true statement. But when your done you should have 2 disk that are the same, but no longer a raid volume.
I used the Break RAID option. For a RAID 0 you would loose all data on the two disk.
ph43drus
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March 20th, 2005 16:00
I used the BIOS RAID utility, and sucessfully broke the RAID 1. The system booted right up with no problems afterwards, and I have two identical disks now.
jankerson
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March 20th, 2005 16:00
shesagordie
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March 20th, 2005 18:00