Expanding RAID 5 Volume in NT

[MadanB]

Hi Guys,

I am at an environment where they have an NT server which has an F:\ which has run out of room. Unfortuantly the exchange db's are on that drive. I was able to expand the array but can't get NT to see the new space. What do I do?? Thanks in advance!!!!

 

[Jpoandl]

It depends...Are you currently using Hardware RAID or Windows NT RAID?

If Hardware RAID, you have to expand the array using the hardware manufacturer RAID configuration utility. After you expand the array, your have to extend the logical partition using the same hardware RAID utility.

Then you can reboot your system and go into WinDisk. You should be able to see the free space on the same drive. However, natively, you won't be able to use the space. You will need third party software to use the free space. Something like Server Magic will work.

-good luck...

Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2003

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[Scanner5]

The best way to expand the drive space is to delete the existing Raid 5 and create a new one including the new drives.

Are the new drives the same size as the old drives in the Raid?

If you mix the size of the drives in a Raid 5 you will loose 10% of the drive space excluding the space lost by the raid.

In a normal RAID 5 you loose 1 drive plus 14% of the drive space.

If you mix the drive sizes you loose 1 drive plus 10% because of size difference plus 14% because of the strip.


The correct process you should follow is as follows.


1: Ensure all users are not connected to the server. If anyone is connected tell them to close the files to ensure you get a 100% backup of the drive F

2: Stop and set any unnecessary services to disabled that are accessing anything on drive F (e.g. exchange services)

3: Get a complete backup of drive F

4: Perform a test restore to ensure that the backup is ok.

5: Reboot the server and go into the firmware on the array controller.

6: Delete the existing raid 5 and save the settings when in the firmware

7: Create a new raid 5 to include the new drives and save the settings

8: Reboot the server

9: Once the server reboots go into the disk admin and create a new partition as drive F and format it as NTFS. Do not make an extended partition create it as primary but do not make it active.

10: Perform a restore on the whole F drive.

11: Make sure that you start and set to automatic any services you stopped at the start of the process.

12: Reboot the server.

13: Cross check that all services and all shares are working. Cross check to ensure that all permissions are correct on a sample of the shares.

14: Perform test logons as using some users ID’s to verify that all is working
I hope this helps. Just remember the backup and restore times will be long. Dependant on the space you have on the server.

A restore takes longer than a backup.