Compaq ProLiant RAID 5 & NW4.11

Depending on the controller card that the server has you might have to create a new array. I had a problem adding larger disks to an existing array, I ended up creating a new array with the new disks.The smart 2-sl controller does not have a batterybackup and will not allow you to add an existing array for fear of data loss incase there is a power outage (even if the server is on UPS). In your case I would try a different server data migration,if this is not possible you might have a bit of work ahead. I take it the server has a full working backup?

I'm afraid the quickest and safest way seems to me to take a full backup, replace the disks, make a new RAID-set, and restore. It'll cost you a night or a sunday, but there is no easy other option. You could for example replace the drives one by one, and let the rebuild take place (as if you replaced defective drives), but in that case only 4.3 out of the 9 GB of the new drives would be used.
Depending on your RAID-controller, available space and so, you could add the disks and simple createa new RAID, but copying/moving data is trickier than simply replacing the disks.
I would do this:
-Make a GOOD reliable backup.
-Double check that backup!
-Login via a workstation
-On the server: LOAD DSMAINT|Backup NDS prior to hardware upgrade.
-Copy that file to your workstation.
-Remove your disks (keep their order, just in case...)
-Install the new disks.
-Boot from the SmartStart CD.
-Select the Array Configuration Utility, and let the wizzard guide you. The defaults are "all disks", "all space" and "RAID5".
-Install NetWare in a temporary tree.
-Log in from the same workstation, and copy the backup file to SYS:System
-on the server, LOAD INSTALL|Directory Options|Remove Directory Services
-on the server, LOAD DSMAINT|Restore NDS after hardware upgrade.
-Install the backup-software.
-Restore.

Good luck. Prepare for sandwiches..:-)

Jim

If you are running one of the COmpaq series of RAID controllers you are in luck you can do this online with the users still onthe machine even.

Just in case one of the drives is bad, do do a tape backup.

First type load onlin at the server console. You should then see a text screen about the current raid card. If you don't look on the driver cd for the card from Compaq or go to compaq's download and suppoort site.

If you do see the screen, set it so that drive rebuilds are high priority.

Then take one of the 9 gb drives and place it next to the machine. Pull one of the 4.3gig drives and wait until you see the error on the server console about the drive or slot having an error and that the raid is now in compatibility mode.Insert the 9gig drive. You will see a message on the sever console about the fact that a new drive was detected, followed by a message saying that the raid was being rebuilt using the new drive. It should take about 30 minutes and you should see amessge that the raid was successfully rebuilt. You can use the onlin.nlm to check on the status of the card and the drives. Once that drive is rebuilt do that for all the drives. Take your time. Once all the drives are rebuilt, then go to 4.11 version of nwconfig. Go to volumes and add all of that new free space it sees to the volume you need to be larger.
You can add some space to SYS: and VOL1: and have a very nice day. I've done this many times and it has worked everytime. Compaq will walk you through this over the phone and will charge you. Let me know how it goes.

if your RAID card has a second channel, why not take a few of the 9 gig drives, and build a totally new array, and then copy the data from the old array onto the new one.

Answer 3 is the best way to do it but failed to mention that when you've replaced all the drives you have to create another logical volume in the array and then load install and create a new netware partition on that drive and then you can make a new volume or make it a part of a pre-existing volume. Creating the new volume might be time consuming.
If you have the Compaq SMART2-DH controller you can actually expand the current logical drive to fill the disks, but DON'T do that with NetWare 4.11 since you'll have a hard time expanding the NetWare partition, and since you can only have one partition per drive, you won't be able to do any thing with the extra space.
So with NetWare 4.11, creating a new logical volume is the way to go.

It all depends on your controller array hardware. Double check if it has the "expand partition" ability, if it not, you should make a reliable backup and strat from a scratch
1.- Make you backup
2.- Prepare server for harware upgrade (in nds Dsmaint.nlm)
3.- Destroy current array
4.- rebuild a new one (define new partitions sizes)
5.- Install basic netware with same patch level as the old one.
6.- Use dsmaint to restore server identifiers
7.- Reboot
8.- Restore all other data

Good luck
6.-

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