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Move Software Raid Array to new server

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by philpio

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I need to access the 3 disk software RAID-5 array from an NT (Alpha) machine that had a power supply failure. I can connect these SCSI drives to an NT(Itel) server. My problem being that I do not have the Disk Administrator backup disk to configure the new server. I do have a backup tape (from several months back). I tried restoring the c:\winnt... folders to a c:\alpha\winnt... folders and used Disk Admin to 'search for other configs...' but it found none.
I really would like to get the data from the (now dead) NT/Alpha software Raid-5 array.

7 replies

by mshavrov

I didn't try it practically (especially with important information) on Windows NT, but what MS says - you can connect hard drives to another machine and it will appear in Disk Manager as "Foreign Disks". Then you should go to disk properties and "Import" disks into your system. I had no problem moving disk arrays from under Windows 2000. Only one thing - you can't boot from these disks. Even if you will create proper boot.ini and rest boot files you have another platform executibles. My preference in this situation is try to fix/replace power supply on your Alpha machine.

Good luck.

by cavedweller

Switching disks between servers without whacking the contents is a tough problem. I would replace (or borrow from another machine) an Alpha power supply and make a backup. Then I would move the disks to the new server and reinitialize them (if thebackup wasn't enough).

by estebandelatorre

YOU WILL NEED TO SET UP A NEW ALPHA SYSTEM
ONCE YOU HAVE THE SYSTEM WORKING, INSTALL THE NEW DRIVES AND IMPORT THEM WITH DISK ADMINISTRATOR.
NT SHOULD RECOGNIZE A RAID 5 CONFIGURATION IF HE CAN ACCESS THE 3 DRIVES AND THE HEADER INFO IN EACH DISK IS READABLE. (BECAUSE OF THE POWER FAILURE, WHO KNOWS...)
HOPE IT HELPS.

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