expanding a RAID array and partitions

[4johnny]

I have a test server that has a scsi array controller and 4- 36gb hard drives
I created a RAID 5 array with 3 drives, C: drive is 12GB and D: drive is 56GB
I wanted to expand the array, so I inserted the 4th hard drive.
After the array expanded, I went into disk manager and now see the 36GB as free space.
Is it possible to add that new space to my C: or D: drive (expanding one of those partitions)?
Do I need a 3rd party utility (something like partition magic for servers) to do that?

 

[ScottWIT]

I started a thread on this very same topic:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=1416235

I will be working on this Friday night. I was told that either DiskPart or ExtPart work well for expanding partitions. Just know that DiskPart will not expand a C partition if that's what you're wanting to do. I decided to use DiskPart because I'm expanding the D partition and it looks very easy to use. I was also told it's wise to do this in safe mode.

So have you reconfigured the array already after adding in the new drive?

 

[4johnny]

I already added the hard 4th hard drive to the array and it now is just empty disk space. So I will try the diskpart.exe to expand the D: drive to use that free space. From what I just read about it, you cannot extend a partition where the pagefile lis located. So I am wondering whether I could move the pagefile to the D: drive and then be able to extend the C: drive? probably not....

I will give it a try tonight

 

[ScottWIT]

Not sure... you could however just use ExtPart instead of DiskPart to extend the C partition and leave the pagefile where it is I guess. I decided to use ExtPart only because I'm only extending my D partition and it looks really easy to use.

Let me know if you do this is in safe mode or not. It sounds like it's recommended but not critical. I'm also curious as to how long it takes.

 

[technome]

To be on the safe side backup first, find a util on the web to backup your partition info,just in case.
Yes you can easily move the pagefile to another parition ..control panel, system icon, advanced, settings, performance, advanced, virtual memory (make the change and reboot).

........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

 

[4johnny]

so I used diskpart last night and tried to expand the C: drive after I moved the pagefile off of it and rebooted. Diskpart would not allow me to expand the system drive. So I then moved the pagefile off of the D: drive and rebooted and then was able to expand the D: drive without a problem. The expansion was immediate. The free space was allocated to the D: drive immediately after I issued the command. I did not do it in safe mode.

 

[ScottWIT]

Interesting... thanx for sharing that info. I still have to expand my array so that will probably take up most of the time. Sounds like diskpart is really easy to use so that's good.

 

[ScottWIT]

one more question for you. are the disks you did this on basic or dynamic? i was reading more about diskpart and i'm getting conflicting info (see below). according to microsoft unless i'm misunderstanding them you CAN use diskpart on dynamic disks. my disks are dynamic and i want to make sure diskpart is the right tool i should be using to extend my data partition after i expand my RAID 5 array.

http://searchwinit.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid1_gci953071,00.html