PowerEdge T110 Server HDD configs using PERC H200 adapter

Hello.

Yes, your procedure is fine. Ensure you have validated backup of your data

2. Boot to BIOS (F2) - check correct RAM/Drives visible? 3. Boot to RAID Adapter (Ctrl-C) and then: Select New Volume Type - RAID 1 Virtual Disk Create new Volume Activate Volume - (initialize) or does it do it automatically when creating new volume?

You may also use OpenManage Server Administrator, OMSA to perform these tasks seamlessly

5. Windows Disk Management - add free drive space to existing C: + D: partitions.

To free space on existing C:\ and D:\ partitions, you will have to transfer some data from these partitions to the newly created partition (s) on the new RAID 1 array. Delete the D:\ partition and expand accordingly using the Windows Disk Management. 

Let me know whether you any further questions or ideas.

Can I not just add space to the existing C: & D: partitions with the free space on the new RAID 1 array?

No you can't, because you have new  drives on a separate RAID 1 array from the original one. Are you using cable drives or hot swap drives?

So I can perform all these tasks in OMSA logged into Win Srv 2008 R2 Foundation instead of booting to RAID Adapter (Ctrl-C) or just disk partition creation/management?

Only RAID management can be done in OMSA but not Disk Management

Presume I should update my OMSA to latest version (64 bit) - this file??

You can install directly.

Link: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=TK61C 

Can I not just add space to the existing C: & D: partitions with the free space on the new RAID 1 array?

If I do as you suggest, I'm hesitant that my ERP Shopworks (File Maker Server 11) might loose its mappings.

So I can perform all these tasks in OMSA logged into Win Srv 2008 R2 Foundation instead of booting to RAID Adapter (Ctrl-C) or just disk partition creation/management?

Presume I should update my OMSA to latest version (64 bit) - this file??

OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-WINX64-8.3.0-1908_A00.exe

or update util?

OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-DUP_381KW_WIN64-8.3.0_1908_A00.EXE

Thanks Robert.

This is a client server (T110) as I'm consulting so I'm not familiar with the system/OMSA.

2 new drives will connect to spare (2) H200 SAS controller adapter cables.

Current RAID 1 is only 2 x Seagate 500MB drives! New RAID 1 will be 2TB.

C: partition is only 80Gb (8Gb free) and D: partition is 380Gb (94Gb free).

Just to clarify - I don't need to create array thru H200 (Ctrl-C) on boot as I can do all RAID 1 creation/manage using OMSA in Win OS?

I'll create new partition using Win Srv Disk Management.

I will backup current D: partition and restore to newly created partition on 2nd RAID 1.

I will delete old D: partition and dedicate free space to C: partition and rename new partition as D: drive.

Presume the Server ERP/19 workstations will all keep drive mappings to Server D: drive once above completed?

Q: What's the easiest way (link?) to check/update T110 system drivers online or is there a utility already on the Server?

Just to clarify - I don't need to create array thru H200 (Ctrl-C) on boot as I can do all RAID 1 creation/manage using OMSA in Win OS? I'll create new partition using Win Srv Disk Management.

You can also use the controller BIOS, Ctrl +C utility to create RAID arrays but OMSA is more effective in RAID and controller management. You should use which ever you find convenient. Win Svr Disk Management is used for partitions.

I will backup current D: partition and restore to newly created partition on 2nd RAID 1. I will delete old D: partition and dedicate free space to C: partition and rename new partition as D: drive.

Yes, this is the correct procedure; you may want to keep it as C: partition

Presume the Server ERP/19 workstations will all keep drive mappings to Server D: drive once above completed?

I am not familiar with ERP but I suppose that creating extra space for the partition should not affect mappings of existing applications.

Q: What's the easiest way (link?) to check/update T110 system drivers online or is there a utility already on the Server?

You can use this link to check the current updates for your system: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/product/poweredge-t110/drivers?rvps=y 

There is also a utility on the server called LifeCycle Controller that you can use. See link

http://www.dell.com/support/Article/us/en/04/SLN292343/EN 

Excellent service/advice. Thank you Robert :)

I have an almost identical situation to the above except that the server is Windows 2008R2 Standard.

Existing system has 2x500GB WD disks as RAID1 virtual disk using H200 RAID adapter.

I want to add two 2TB disks as a second RAID1 virtual disk on the same adapter.

I've tried adding the second virtual disk using the RAID configuration utility (CTRL+C), and also using OMSA. In both cases, the new virtual disk is created successfully, but in the first case the system then fails to boot, and if I use OMSA, the system blue-screens shortly after I add the virtual disk. When I delete the new virtual disk the system boots normally again.

Am I missing something? The new 2TB disks are SSHDs, if that makes a difference.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Ken