RAID & Simple or Dynamic disk confusion? 1

[Novexx]

I have an XPPro machine running a 2 disk SATA RAID via an adaptec 1420SA controller. I also have a removable drive bay
which I want to use for full DtD backups. I will have 5 seperate HDD being swapped into the bay for backups (one per day, each with 2 partitions).

Three things are confusing me on how to set this up;

1)The Mobo (Intel 945G) supports SATA, as does the Adaptec raid card - would i be better connecting the removable drive carrier to the Mobo or Adaptec controller?

2)When the drive is connected, would it be best to configure it as a Basic or Dynamic disk (remembering they need only two partitions, but there will be 5 of them being swapped daily)?

3)Hot swapping of the removable drive would be uefull, the Mobo & controller both support hot swap, but can XPPro support it without having to rescan?


Any advice much appreciated, as I am lost with the possibilities here.

Thank You

 

[rvnguy]

Novexx,

With dynamic storage, you can perform disk and volume management without the need to restart Windows.

This should answer #2 & 3.

As to #1, as you did not specify what implementation of RAID you employed with your two disk set, and as this is to be only for backup purposes you can place this on either controller as long as you have the necessary additional connector that will be required. As the 1420 supports 4 you should have the capacity.

I would, for no other reason but to keeep them on separate channels, place this on the other controller.

Hope This Helps

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[Novexx]

Thanks for your reply.

Its RAID 1 I'm using, and by the looks of things it will be easier to plug the removable carrier/drives into the Mobo.

Cheers.

 

[Novexx]

OK, I have made all the removable drives Dynamic, with two volumes on each, with a pair of drive letter assigned to each drive H&I, J&K...., the system disk remains a basic disk.

Every time I swap a removable drive for another, disk managment is reporting a foreign disk, which I have to import to use - is this becase the system disk remains a basic disk, and cannot retain information on the dynamic disk group?

if I can get that sorted, is it then possible or advisable to assign all the removable disks the same pair of drive letters?

 

[rvnguy]

Novexx,

I don't know what model drives you are using but each drive mfg has utilities to setup their drives that either came with the drives or can be down loaded from their site. I assume that your 5 drives are the same make & model.

Or an App like Acronis True Image to generate Identical images.

To accomplish what I think you are trying to do I would setup one drive as you want it. Then while this drive is still installed I would connect another drive in a temp fashion and clone the drive to look exactly as the first drive. Repeat this for all drives and you now have five identical drives that when swapped will appear to the system as the same drive. Drive assignments & all will be identical.

This should remove the foreign disk appearance and allow you to swap drives.

I Hope This is Clear and Helps

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[Novexx]

Sounds good,

Am I correct in thinking that XP will only look at the volume information on the disk at boot, and will not be confused that the file names/dates/sizes will be different on each drive.

I ask because the 5 disks (all Hitachi 7K80 SATAIIs)will be used on a daily rotation, so the disk going in on say Tuesday, will not be identical to the disk which came out on Monday?

Thanks Again.

 

[rvnguy]

Novexx,

I was referencing making the blank but formated drive that you setup identical by cloning this to all other drives.

This insures that the MBR's are all the same and the drive assignments are identical across all drives.

Win XP does not cache the contents and will not have any refernce as to what files are present or not.

You might check the MS site to determine if hot swapping is supported in XP. I know it is in Server OS's not sure about XP & don't know if this is important to you.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[Novexx]

Yes, I know what you were advising. I just though it might cause a problem later when things were up and running, but if XP isnt aware of the files on the disk then its no problem.

I would really like the ability to hot swap, but I have searched high and low and cannot find a definative answer to this question.

Indeeed SATA is supposed to be hot swap capable, and the Mobo (Supermicro) is also hot swap capable, but there isnt much in XP or at MS about this. I belive that XP does not support removable storage under dynamic drives, and the Eject options are greyed out in Disk management?

I am getting the impression that SATA hot swap outwith server O/Ss is a bit of a white rabbit, any my name is Alice - does anyone know anything to the contorary?

Thanks.

 

[rvnguy]

Novexx,
You might be correct on this whit rabbit thing. I have not found any credible reference for this in XP. It may be possible or not.

I know that you have obtained the HD enclosure but have you even considered 3.5" USB enclosures? This would make "HotSwaping" intergral and support your backup senario efficiently. Just a thought on a possible avenue.

rvnguy
"I know everything..I just can't remember it all

 

[Novexx]

rvnguy,

Thanks for all your advice.

I think that I will chase the white rabbit for a bit to see if I can get some sort of clear answer on hot swapping in XP.

Again Thanks.