Migrating OS, Data&Apps to larger drives

I would break the mirror. Remove 2 of the drives and replace them with the new drives. Re-establish the mirror. Then break the mirror and remove the other 2 dries and replace them with the new drives. Re-establish the mirror.

This will be time consuming but there will be no downtime. Keep in mind the while the mirror is not established you are taking a risk.

I would break the mirror. Remove 2 of the drives and replace them with the new drives. Re-establish the mirror. Then break the mirror and remove the other 2 dries and replace them with the new drives. Re-establish the mirror.

This will be time consuming but there will be no downtime. Keep in mind the while the mirror is not established you are taking a risk.

Hi,
If you do the Backup and restore method you will have the least amount of "potential" problems, all license information should be intact unless the software uses the volume id or something like that method. most software keeps license info inthe registry or in files on the hard drives, don't use diskcopy use a tape backup! file attributes and permissions are vital to a working system,
using the tape backup method also has the added benefit of allowing you to resize the partitions before you restore, although there are "resizing" programs out there (like partition magic..) the potential for problems is high especially if you arent' an expert.
this is the procedure I suggest:
before anything else: full backup of all drives to tape....then
1. create an emergency boot disk for the mirror set and configure to be able to boot EITHER drive using the boot.ini file refer to the microsoft knowledgebase article Q113977.
2. TEST THE BOOT DISK for BOTH drives!
3. remove one of the drives, install the new drive with exactly the same jumper settings and cable connection. If the system doesn't boot then boot using the emergency floppy.
4. create and format partitions on the new drive, break the mirror set and restore from tapeto the new drive.
5. remove the other small drive and replace with new.
6. boot from the floppy to the "OTHER" drive refer step 1 and 2.
7. recreate the mirror set with the other new drive and set one of the drives to be the "active" drive.
8. test to see if the system will boot from hdisk. all done'!

I know this sounds like alot but it is really quick and straight forward, it provides the highest margins for error and recovery that I know of.

thank you for the post...jer

First "break the mirror"
Then replace the 1st and 2nd drives (making sure you have a boot disk that will work on the second half of the mirror) boot to the old drives. Use Resource Kit "scopy" to move the files and retain security and permissions.Boot to First (new) disk. If this works, replace 3rd and 4th disks.
Then recreate the mirror.

Depending on space, Norton Ghost or a similar disk-inmaging system will work well after the mirror has been broken.

Diskcopy ? Only for 3.5"!
Nothing best that backup & restore
Buy a cheap array controller (<1000$)
Have a good backup (What about open files???) lets go...
Friday -Allways- Night(mare...)
1.- Remove your old HD (remeber carefully the order, cables etc. Keep them as GOLD !

2.- Install array controller, the new HD, setup RAID 5, Install NT S.O, IDEM SP level.

3.- Try to restore SOME data, just to check if everything is working, it works? fine?

4.- Start the full restore. (Option: Overwrite Existing Files = Never!)

5.- Not working?, just remove new hardware, plug again the old HD?s and you?re back again in less than 30 minutes!!!

My experience is that nothing is more easy, fast and reliable like a full restore.

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