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adding disk space

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I have a netware server 5.0 and currently have a raid 5 of seven disks. I would like to add additional disk ( maybe 2 disks of 9.1 Gb). Is this something that can be done.
If so how to I increase disk space for my current server without affecting anything. Since I am new to this field please I will appreciate if you can specify the details.

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by kevin anderson

This will depend ALOT on how the RAID array was set up, and on which controller you are using.

I'll describe the process I used with a PowerEdge Raid Controller (DELL).

When the array is first set up, I used 5 20 gig disks. This gave us 80 Gigs of physically available disk space (+20 for the striping) I set up the logical array to show several hundred Gigs, I believe it was 180 Gigs. When I installed Netware, I had a partition that was 180 Gigs, however, the defined partitions were only 80 Gigs. The Raid controller fooled Netware into thinking that I actually had more space than I did, and it kept track of when and where things went on the hard drives. When I added another 20 Gig drive, the logical array grew to 100 Gogs, and I simply assigned a new partition of 20 Gigs and added it to the current 80 on the server.

My advice would be to make sure you have 2 backups, and test them both, before you start. This has alot of variables, so you will likely see something different that I did. Keep in mind though, that the Logical volume size can be anything, but you cannot use more space than is physically present (and remember the space is x-1 (5 20 gig drive means 80 gigs. ((5-1)*20=80))).

Kev

by jimbb

As said in another answer, it depends a lot on the RAID controller if and how you can expand. 7 Disks: you may even be at its limit already.
In NetWare it's very easy. But again it depends on your controller's capabilities. If it simply expands what is there, just increase existing volumes in NWCONFIG/Disk Options or NWCONFIG/NSS Options (depending on the type of volumes). This can be done on-line, no dismount needed.
Most likely however your controller will add a second virtual disk. In that case you first need to create a NetWare partition on it (for traditional volumes) via NWCONFIG/Disk Options, or register it to be used for NSS via NWCONFIG/NSS Options. And then you can again expand the existing volumes, completely transparant to the users, no dismount needed.
In both cases, if you expand existing volumes, there's nothing at all that changes to your login scripts/mappings/trustee rights.
By the way, expanding a RAID set can be a very lengthy process, so depending on controller/software, you may need to prepare for a long period during which your server will be not available, or will be running with decreased performance.
And please make sure you have a good backup before you start.

Jim

by estebandelatorre

Hi singh!
If you can install 3 instead of two, you can install the 3 HD and setup a NEW Raid 5 with the new HD's, then install a NEW volumen in Netware.
But if you can add only two HD's you will have to install the HD, delete the Array (loosing all your data) and build a new one, then install the S.O. define the new volumen sizes and restore from backup.
Consider this if your array ctl permits.
Set two 9.1 GB in hardware mirror, make them the Boot partition and install S.O. ONLY (sys: volume) here.
Then make an array (raid 5) with the other 9.1 HD. Use this space to make 'n' volumes to store mass data. When time to upgrade 18.GB HD became, remove the raid 9.1GB hd, install the new ones and restore from backup. S.O. and SYS: will remain there! If you have "fat" netware servers (more than 150GB, like me)it's very important to keep SYS: alive!

Good luck

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