Windows Forum

Ask something
Discussion Locked

Adding New Hard Drive to Server

0 helpful
5 replies

by metty

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

I currently have a Compaq Proliant 3000 NT4.0 server with 5 or 6 9.1GB SCSI drives configured with RAID 5. I need to add another drive, but obviously do not want to lose data. My understanding is that I have to get a good full backup (or 2), destroy the array, add the new drive, recreate the array, and restore the data. Am I missing anything? Any "gotcha's"? What about file/folder permissions? Thanks in advance!

Jeff

5 replies

by tejota

You don't have to do that. With RAID5, you can add and remove drives on the fly. The drive will have to be the same size though, it cannot be smaller. If it is larger, then you will lose the additional space above 9.1gb which is the size of each of the other drives. Check to see which version of RAID you are running to see how many devices the controller can handle. Chances are that the controller can handle atleast another drive. Add the drive, then start the RAID manager. In the RAID manager the new drive should show up, but not configured. You should be able to add the drive to the existing array with no problems. Once added, save the configuration and reboot. I've done this not with Compaq, but with IBM Netfinity servers running ServRAID and have been able to do this on the fly. Most RAID are the same when it comes to the basic capabilities of them. In the end though, may sure you have a backup just in case Compaq is different.

This discussion is closed to new replies.