Adding new drive to RAID 5 config

[jatkinson]

I have a compaq ML370 server with W2K sever installed on it.

I wanted to add another 18.2Gb drive to my existing RAID5 setup so I could increase storage capacity.

I've followed the wizard through and the drive has been installed. However, rather than increasing capacity on the logical Drive 1 the wizard has set the new drive up with RAID5 as Logical Drive 2.

How can I add the new 18.2Gb HDD to the existing RAID5 setup to increase the storage capacity of my C and D drives??

Thanks

 

[TheLad]

You need to use a utility such as Partition Magic to manually stretch your drive sizes.

When you add a disk to an existing RAID5 array, it automatically creates another logical volume. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
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[jatkinson]

Is there a danger of losing any data doing this? The server in question is my main server and although I have a full backup I don't want to have to rebuild it.

I also assume this will have to be done when my client PCs aren't using the server.

 

[TheLad]

Of course there is a danger in doing this, but there is a danger in anything these days (even adding a hard disk to a RAID5 array).

As long as you have a decent backup, don't worry. I have only seen this sort of thing screw up when a server has lost power half-waythrough (so as long as your company has paid the bill, don't worry!!).

The server will have to be down for the duration - depending on which product you go for, some do it within Windows, with some you have to boot to DOS -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
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