Add drives to IBM x225 with RAID 1 (LSI 1030)

[grmcgee1]

Admitted newbie on this topic. I have an IBM x225 that arrived with two 18GB hotswap drives configured as RAID 1 (mirrored). Server has onboard LSI 1030 controller with no Servraid.

I successfully installed Windows Server 2003 on the RAID 1 array. Now I have four additional 18GB hotswap drives that I have added to the drive cage. What are my options for using these additional four drives?

When I boot Windows Server, it only sees the C: drive (RAID 1 array). If I hit CTRL-C during boot, the LSI utility starts, and I can see all six drives, but I have not attempted to make any drive configuration changes.

I would like to maintain the RAID 1 array for the OS and then add a RAID 5 data array for the additional four drives. However, it is my understanding that the LSI controller supports only one RAID array.

So, can I reconfigure all six drives into a RAID 5 array and use them as one big drive? If so, how do I use the LSI utility do do this? (Pointing me to some docs is fine -- I don't have any docs for this server.) It's ok if I have to reinstall Windows Server.

Alternatively, do you experts have other suggestions about how to add data storage capacity? I guess I could be happy with the RAID 1 for the OS, then adding an internal IDE drive or external USB drive, but I don't know what specs to buy nor do I have a good feel for the performance impacts of those options.

I have looked through the forums and FAQs and did not find much on this topic. Thanks for any suggestions and pointers to information sources.

Rick

 

[itsp1965]

The onboard LSI will limit you to only to mirroring and provides no RAID-5 capability (as you indicated). If you want to make use of the other drives, you can either;

1. Install an actual ServerRAID controller
2. Create a second mirror set consisting of the 4 drives (although you will lose 2)
3. Create an OS based raid-5 volume (not recommended on a production host)

HTH

 

[goombawaho]

I used to have an X225 at my old job. Yeah, as stated above, I would get a ServerRaid controller that is compatible with the X225 and create yourself a separate RAID 5 array just for your data, keeping the mirror for the OS only.

Here's a list of the supported controllers for your server. Don't be too hasty - not just any one will work. You may have to purchase a "vintage" controller if they're not sold.

https://www-304.ibm.com/systems/sup...ocdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-45291&brandind=5000008

I'd double check that your exact product-model number is compatible with the controller you pick before purchasing.

I had a 4LX and it worked just fine. The 6i was only supported on one particular machine and that's why I said to check carefully on compatibility. It's not just "throw it in a PCI slot and go".