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ctctech

4 Posts

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November 27th, 2006 10:00

No RAID to RAID5

Hi All
 
I have a mail server that was originally bought with a single SCSI HDD.  I want to replace the single disk with 3 disk in a RAID 5 array.   What's the best way to achieve this?
 
I've thought of taking an image of the disk, then adding the new disks in the array them re-applying the image (using Ghost) to the new array, but am not sure if this will work.......I've also considered a full backup of the system (Bacup exec 10d), re-building the server with the RAID and restoring from tape but again, this seems like a long winded method.
 
Is there an easier way????????
 
The server's a poweredge 2650 - W23K, Exchange 2003
 
Any pointers are appreciated....thanks
 

Message Edited by ctctech on 11-27-200606:49 AM

Dev Mgr

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November 27th, 2006 12:00

How is the scsi drive currently set up? Is it connected to a PERC of any kind, or just a scsi controller?

If it's just a scsi controller you'll need to buy either the ROMB components or a PERC card.

If you're already set up using the perc in a single disk raid 0, you can probably configure the raid 5 in the perc bios and then use Ghost to copy the image to the raid 5.

If you're on a scsi controller your options are different as the OS you have won't have the perc drivers in it. Some have reported that you can image the raid 5 and then boot to the OS install CD with "F6" to be able to let it load the PERC drivers from floppy. Then perform a repair and see if the OS will boot.

If you're going from a scsi controller to a PERC3 or PERC4 PCI-X card, I'd actually suggest to add the card (don't hook up scsi cables yet), boot to your existing disk/os and update the PERC bios and install the latest drivers. Then create a new Ghost image (to network share or so). Now change your cabling to have the perc go to the backplane, put in the drives the way you want them, use the perc bios to create the raid 5. Now restore the Ghost image and try to boot.

ctctech

4 Posts

November 28th, 2006 08:00

Thanks for the reply - good advice.
 
That's a good point about the drivers not being on the non RAID image - thanks.    I actually have 2  servers with no RAID (somebody should shoot the person who built these!!).  The mail server's SCSI disk, as discussed in last post,  is on a LSI Logic SCSI controller.  So, to clarify, would I need to buy a RAID controller and new HDDs first, connect the (original) drive, boot to OS, update drivers, connect other drives, build RAID 5 array and apply ghost image?
 
The other server I have in this precarious position has a single drive on a PERC 4/im embedded controller,  so I hope to just add new drives to this and build the array before applying the original server image.
 
 
 
 

Message Edited by ctctech on 11-28-200605:55 AM

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