Adding raid to existing server 1

[jshurst]

Good morning everyone,

I need to add a raid controller to a server that already has everything installed (without loosing any data). Is this possible? If it is then can someone recommend a controller card (all I need is raid 1 mirroring)?

Also, I have two HD's that are the same size, but from different manufacturers. Will that work or do they need to be exactly the same?

Thanks,

J

 

[Davetoo]

Do you want the RAID to be a drive(s) in addition to what you have or are you trying to replace the existing drives?

I'm Certifiable, not cert-ified.
It just means my answers are from experience, not a book.
The poster formerly known as lander215

 

[jshurst]

I want to mirror the data already on one drive to another drive, and then keep it in the raid configuration thereafter. So I guess replace the existing drive with a raid configuration.

Does that make sense?

J

 

[terrywilson]

IDE or SCSI? I have done this with IDE controllers several times (Adaptec and IBM cards) and it has gone without a hitch. I would recommend before doing anything, ghost the drive to another spare one - just to give you somewhere to get back where you started from. I normally fit the RAID controller, power up the server and install the appropriate drivers etc for it, shut it down, move the hard disk onto that controller and create a mirror from the source disk, build mirror and power up into windows. Good luck.

 

[jshurst]

Thanks for the info. It's a IDE drive.

 

[terrywilson]

In that case you shouldn't have any problems. The last few I did on Windows 2000 were very straightforward so I wouldnt imagine you will ahve any problems. Just make sure to ghost it first to give you a way back in case things do go wrong.