Help with redundancy and Raid

[Bizoune Bizoune]

I might be in the wrong groups, but, I'm sure some persons here are aware of
this... Or maybe you could redirect me to the good groups?

I wanna have a Win2k server with raid level 5(Managed by the adaptec
controler, not by Win2k). My question is, I wanna have a redundancy for
this server.

Is it possible that, if something in this server goes beserk(Anything but
the harddrive). If I have an identical server without any hard drive.
Could I pull the hard drives from the server, put it in the new servers, and
we would be up an running?

I'm no expert in RAID, but from what I know, the controller is the one who
has the info on the raid. So my above scenario would not work. If so, what
would be the way to make the above scenario work.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Best answer: see if your RAID controller supports a "hot spare" drive (or
more than one) - and do full backups to tape every night.

 

[Gary Davis]

If you are using a Adaptec controller then the disk drives have the raid
info on them.

 

[Willit]

Raid array is hard to use with XP. Too many errors, the
drives spend half the time re-building themselves. The
shut-down in XP is too unpredictable, it cause the drives
to be out of sync.

 

[Gary Davis]

Umm that was a Win2k server not XP

Raid array is hard to use with XP. Too many errors, the
drives spend half the time re-building themselves. The
shut-down in XP is too unpredictable, it cause the drives
to be out of sync.

 

[Bizoune Bizoune]

Best answer: see if your RAID controller supports a "hot spare" drive (or
more than one) - and do full backups to tape every night.

Ok, just to see if I got that right. If you talk about backups, so you're
basicly saying, that putting all hardrive, in an exact same new server, it
would'nt work unless I make a restore? I'm asking this, cuz there's a time
issue involved.

Did I got that right? If so, if I transfer the Adaptec controller card.
Would it keep the Raid info and all would be up an running?

 

[Bizoune Bizoune]

If you are using a Adaptec controller then the disk drives have the raid
info on them.

So my scenario would work?

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

I mean, nightly full backups to tape....you should be doing that anyway, and
you can also store tapes off-site for disaster recovery. Keep a spare server
handy and practice your restore techniques regularly (also ensures you know
your backups are good).

Unless you have 100% identical hardware, you can't just move your RAID
controller/drives to another box and expect it to boot/work properly.

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

We're talking about W2k server, and hardware RAID is by far more robust,
reliable and recoverable than a software RAID anyway....

 

[Bizoune Bizoune]

I mean, nightly full backups to tape....you should be doing that anyway, and
you can also store tapes off-site for disaster recovery. Keep a spare server
handy and practice your restore techniques regularly (also ensures you know
your backups are good).

Unless you have 100% identical hardware, you can't just move your RAID
controller/drives to another box and expect it to boot/work properly.

ok ok, I really apreciate your help!!!

So based on your info, I'll order two exact same server with both an adaptec
adapter. Configure RAID at the hardware level and not software. For sure,
I'll have full backup. And if the CPU fails for exemple, I'll just pu the
hard drivers in the new server, and I should be up and running.

Thanks a lot!!! You're full of knowledge!

 

[Willit]

Good read, I thought I was in a XP news group. What should
I buy my mother in law for christmas ?? My daughter has
put on a little weight this year, do you think I would
hurt her feelings if I bought her clothes. I need some
help with these questions, could you give me some advice.

 

[Bizoune Bizoune]

Good read, I thought I was in a XP news group. What should

I buy my mother in law for christmas ?? My daughter has
put on a little weight this year, do you think I would
hurt her feelings if I bought her clothes. I need some
help with these questions, could you give me some advice.

My appologies!!!!!!!!! That's what I said first in my post, maybe I'm not in
the good group. I didn't find any groups related to Win2k. Anyway, this is
not a Windows Version issue.

 

[Gary Davis]

Yes if both computers have the same hardware. (short the disk drives).

 

[Gary Davis]

1. Get your mother in law a gift certificate to a book store.
2. It would be better to give your daughter a gift certificate and let her
pick out her own clothes or maybe a nice tattoo or body perching.


Hope that helps.

 

[Bizoune Bizoune]

Yes if both computers have the same hardware. (short the disk drives).

Thanks!!!!!!!

 

[Steve Nielsen]

ok ok, I really apreciate your help!!!

So based on your info, I'll order two exact same server with both an adaptec
adapter. Configure RAID at the hardware level and not software. For sure,
I'll have full backup. And if the CPU fails for exemple, I'll just pu the
hard drivers in the new server, and I should be up and running.

Thanks a lot!!! You're full of knowledge!

The only potential snag I forsee is I believe with some RAID controllers
the array definitions are written into NVRAM on the controller as well
as to the disks. You might run into array configuration problems after
moving the drives. Perhaps you could install the drives in both machines
and configure them exactly the same first before installing the OS,
making sure the physical drives are in the exact same positions in the
array on each machine. I would definitely do some testing with this
before relying on it to work.

Steve

 

[Steve Nielsen]

There are Windows Server groups. A good one to start with is:

microsoft.public.windows.server.general

Steve

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

LOL ...yeah, I noticed where this was posted after I replied to your
message. I subscribe to a lot of newsgroups and wasn't paying attention.

Anyway, your car keys are right under the stack of new mail you dumped on
the table in the foyer.