I have a PE4600 w Perc3Di

 

My original configuration was a RAID 5 Array across (4) 36 GB drives plus 1 Hot Spare. Total container size was 101.7 GB.

 

Following a drive failure, the array rebuilt automatically with the hot spare.

 

At the direction of Dell Support, I reseated the failed drive and ran diagnostics on the drive which indicated the drive was good. My intention was to make this the new hot spare.

 

After conflicting instructions from different support reps as to how to do this and a misunderstanding on my part, I  now have:

101.7 GB RAID 5 Array accross (5) 36 GB drives with no Hot Spare and a lot of unallocated space on the drives.

 

Can I do either of the following without starting form scratch?

 

1. Reconfigure back to my original configuration of 4 plus 1 Hot Spare as the total size was never changed.

 

2. Keep the 5 Drive Array, but increase the container size to use the unallocated space. I would add a new drive to be the hot spare.

 

My feeling is no, but it doesn't hurt to ask.

 

Thanks