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Replacing a hard drive in a RAID array

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by usbport1 1 view

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I have a question about RAID arrays - For example, you have a RAID array with 3 exact duplicate (same everything) 9GB SCSI hard drives that were set up three years ago. If one of the 9GB hard drives in the RAID array dies, what happens if you can?t replace it with an exact duplicate make, model, size, etc.? Can you add a different make and/or a larger hard drive to the array or would you have to replace all three drives?
Thanks-
Glenn Hudgins

7 replies

by rdenyer

Glenn,
Not sure about other vendors but with Compaq SMART array controller you can replace the failed drive with a dissimilar drive, and the controller will rebuild to the size of the other drives. In fact I have helped customers upgrade an entire RAIDF set with new larger drives. The process goes like this, replace the first drive 9 GB with a 18 GB and wait for rebuild to complete, then repeat for each drive. At the end of the process you end up with "free" space that can then be setup as newlogical drives.
Bottom line, it will be up to the capabilty of your RAID controller.
Regards
Richard Denyer

by usbport1

Thanks for the answer - I'm using a Compaq SMART array so your answer really helped.

by mshavrov

as it was told in first answer it depends on RAID controller card. I had experience with MyLex RAID card when we just put 9Gb drive to 4Gb-drives RAID array and it rebuilds it. And unused space in that case was "lost". It will not do it if you insert smaller drive. In any case you can make backup and play with new drive. Sure in case you will upgrade your system with all new drives you will need to backup all data, recreate array, partition and restore system (but it's another story).

Good luck.

by computechie

Every raid setup I've ever worked with it didnt matter what make model, but it does need to be at least as big as the others, or it cant rebuild the entire volume. But you don't want to go too big, or you'll waste space. If you put in a 18GB SCSI drive, you'll loose 9GB of it. Also make sure to get drives that are the same speed and seek times, or faster, as your others so it wont slow down your SCSI chain. Good luck!

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