RAID 1

[Miha]

Hi

Is it possible to install op. system (windows 2003 server) on 1 SCSI disk,
and then later (because our HW distributor will deliver us another one in 14
days)
add additional SCSI HS disk and configure them in mirror mode - not
software mirror but RAID 1 that is supported with on-board controller on a
server, so that data will be available after configuring a new array.
As I know, last time when we set-up a server with HW RAID1, we had to
'initialize' disks when creating a new array and the disks were also
formatted during that configuration

Regards
Miha

 

[Colon Terminus]

I'm sure it depends on what RAID controller you have, but it should be
simple. Most controllers will let you set up the mirror at any time without
destroying any data on the "Source" disk. Just install the second disk,
establish the mirror and copy the "Source" disk to the Mirror disk. This
last step is usually done "on the fly".

 

[Miha]

Thanks for help. I'll see if this could be done.
Regards
Miha

 

[Rube]

Many RAID vendors don't include the option to do this in the raid cards bios
setup screens but instead, its done from within an O/S gui. HP's SmartArray
cards are like this. I did the exact same thing a month ago. I had to use
the smart array windows utility.

 

[Diane Walker]

We have a similar question. The only difference is we don't have the
on-board controller. We just purchased the RAID Controller card. We
have already installed Windows 2003 server. Will we be able to install the
RAID controller card, the second disk, establish the mirror and copy the
"source" disk to the Mirror disk?

Thanks.

 

[Diane Walker]

We have a similar question as Miha, except we don't have the on-board RAID
controller. We purchased the RAID controller card from LSI Logic. So, you
just installed the HP SmartArray utility in Windows. Then, you use the HP
SmartArray utility to configure the RAID and you DONOT have to reinstall
Windows?

Thanks.

 

[Diane Walker]

Do you mind sending me an email to let me know if you have successfully
installed the RAID1? We need to do exactly what you are doing, except we
don't have the on-board RAID controller. We purchased the RAID controller
card from LSI Logic. Thank you very much.

 

[Rube]

The SmartArray is HP specific. Your card should have included its own
utilities.
IDE & SATA RAID implementations are usually a whole lot less developed than
SCSI setups. Its really hit or miss with IDE or SATA. Now, if you go with
one of the really high-end sata raid cards (Areca & RaidCore) then chances
are you will get a good set of windows utilities.
But to answer your question, Yes, I had a single 36GB scsi drive in my
system as a raid 0 volume attached to a SmartArray 642 controller. I month
later, I added the 2nd 36GB drive. The 642's BIOS gave me no option to
migrate my single raid 0 volume to raid 1. I then booted into windows and
ran the SmartArray utility (which was pre-installed on my Proliant ml330 g3
and is part of their SmartStart setup utility set) The utility gave me so
many more options in a pretty "raid-for-dummies" style interface. It was
very easy and took only a few minutes to migrate from 1 drive to a mirrored
pair.

 

[Diane Walker]

Thank you very much for your quick response. Your response helps.

 

[Miha]

Hi

Thank you all for help. I'll try this when our distributor delivers us
second disk - in about next week they said... I hope.
I'll post-you then how 'sucessfully' will this be

Regards
Miha