Expanding an external hardware Raid

[Chuck]

I just added a hardware raid to my system. In the future, I may want to
expand the array. I have been hearing all kinds of information regarding
basic disk vs. dynamic.

The hardware user manual says that expanding the array is possible, but
makes no mention of basic or dynamic. I thought dynamic disks allowed more
things to be done.

Bottom line, Should I keep the array as a basic disk or dynamic?

 

[Guest]

First you need to understand the distinction between what the RAID card will allow you to do at the hardware level and what Windows (basic & dynamic disks) will allow you to do at the software level

What level of RAID are you implementing
If RAID5 then your RAID card may allow you to expand an existing array. But you would then have to expand the array within Windows, there are utilities that do this for you (Dells 'Extpart' for one)

For the differences between Basic & Dynamic disks see: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;175761

 

[Chuck]

Raid5

Does Extpart work on a Dynamic Volume?

First you need to understand the distinction between what the RAID card

will allow you to do at the hardware level and what Windows (basic & dynamic
disks) will allow you to do at the software level.

What level of RAID are you implementing?
If RAID5 then your RAID card may allow you to expand an existing array.

But you would then have to expand the array within Windows, there are
utilities that do this for you (Dells 'Extpart' for one).

For the differences between Basic & Dynamic disks see:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;175761