Adding new disk and how to expand an array

[Dobeman]

I am running out of diskspace in our of our servers. There are still five empty slots for additional hard disk.

Facts:
OS - NT4
HArdware - HP Proliant ML530 G2

First, I want to tell what I did.

a. I inserted five additional disk and run Array Configuration Utility.
b. In the Array, which I want to expand, I created another logical drive out of the new disk I inserted, this came out as Logical drive 2.
c. I then extended the logical drive 1 and added the unused space.
d. After the rebuild process, I noticed that there are now two logical drives in Array but the new unused space has not been added in to my drive.
e. I went to Disk Administrator and tried to create an extended partition. I found out that in doing so, the new space I have created will have a new drive letter.

I do not want to create another drive letter. I want the new unused space to be added to my drive F: or my data drive and extend its diskspace. I do not want to create another separate drive. What did I do wrong?

I know i still have some options like I could try Partition Magic to add the unused space or to delete the original logical drive 1 and recreate it, this time including the new disk. But I wanted to consult you if there is a much easier way to do this.

As of now, the newly installed disks are not being used.

 

[terry712]

this is limitation of ms

you didnt do it wrong
you need to use partition magic or ms has some freebie utils - diskpart or something like that - not sure if its only 2000 though

 

[harpoon70]

Hey Dobeman, I would like to clarify your post because I think I want to do the same thing.
Your F:drive is already a RAID 5 and you want to add more disks to it AND keeping it the F: drive?
Also you are using Hardware RAID? what card are you using?

Thanks a bunch

 

[RustyMajor]

This is an old post, but I found it through Google.

Just wanted to clarify that DiskPart does NOT work on NT4, I just tried it (hence why I'm now searching).

 

[NortonES2]

Believe that VolumeManager will do this for you but it's not free.

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If it doesn't leak oil it must be empty!!