Basic and Dynamic disks

[Jim]

Our typical server setup is Compaq Proliant ML530,
Hardware Raid-5 (Array controller), with online spare.
Windows 2000 Server: Typically setup a 20GB system
partition with the remainder being an extended partion
Logical Drive. Until recently we always setup the disk as
a Basic disk. Our latest servers we have been using the
dynamic disk configuration. All NTFS.

Is there any advantage to upgrading the servers with Basic
disk configurations to Dynamic Disk config. We do NOT
plan to use mirroring, striping, spanning or Raid-5
(software).

If there is an advantage and we decide to upgrade then
what about the data and applications on the extended
(logical drives) and other primary partions in addition to
the Primary System partion. Can there be data loss. Will
it wipe these partition out or will it just convert these
Logical and other primary partions to Dynamic simple
volumes?

 

[Leonard Severt [MSFT]]

Our typical server setup is Compaq Proliant ML530,
Hardware Raid-5 (Array controller), with online spare.
Windows 2000 Server: Typically setup a 20GB system
partition with the remainder being an extended partion
Logical Drive. Until recently we always setup the disk as
a Basic disk. Our latest servers we have been using the
dynamic disk configuration. All NTFS.

Is there any advantage to upgrading the servers with Basic
disk configurations to Dynamic Disk config. We do NOT
plan to use mirroring, striping, spanning or Raid-5
(software).

If there is an advantage and we decide to upgrade then
what about the data and applications on the extended
(logical drives) and other primary partions in addition to
the Primary System partion. Can there be data loss. Will
it wipe these partition out or will it just convert these
Logical and other primary partions to Dynamic simple
volumes?

If you are not using software mirroring, striping or raid5 then do not
use dynamic. It adds an additional layer of complexity. If you do
convert it does leave the data on the drive.

Leonard Severt

Windows 2000 Server Setup Team