Storage expansion on home server

[DannyM]

Now then,

I currently have a server with 2x1TB drives (in raid 0) and a single 2 TB drive, effectively giving me 4TB of space, however, I'm wanting to add more drive space but I also want to implement a RAID array so that I can add drives as I go. So I'm after some advice really.

- Firstly, I've not had experience with RAID 5/6 so is it possible to add drives as you go with these setups? In the sense that it just expands the array and I have to do nothing else?

- Secondly, can you advise on the best way to transfer my current data? Would it be a case of I would have to buy a whole new set of disks and then create the array with those disks and transfer it over?

I know how to set the array up, it's just a bit awkward maybe having to buy 4/5 new HDD's and not been able to utilize my current HDD's.

Thanks.

[Splash]

Generally with any RAID migration your best bet is to backup your data, trash and recreate the array, then copy the data back. Some setups will allow for live expansion (though expect degraded performance while it's expanding), but not all - it largely depends on your controller hardware/software.

You have the backups already though, right? 'cos (if I had a pound for every time I said this) RAID is in no way, shape or form a substitute for backup.

[smargh]

Why would you want to transfer data? It's RAID 0 - the array will fail at any time anyway. Just nuke it and copy the data onto it again, either from the backup (if this contains the main data) or back up the data to the array again if this server is actually the one used to store backups.

Generally, decent hardware RAID controllers willl allow you to expand volumes into new drives, then you would expand the partition with OS tools. Exactly how to do this depends on the controller.

Sometimes the expanding process can BSOD the server. Well... it can on HP swervers anyway.

[Zak33]

if it's Windows Home Server... you wont use RAID.

you just plug the drive in.. boot it up.. and it'll tell you what to do and sort it.

WHS for the win

[DannyM]

Right, firstly it's Win Server 2008 I have, but I don't think this matters here. Also the essential data is indeed backed up.

What I'm wanting to do is create a RAID 5 or 6 array to put my current data on to, which is residing on the RAID 0 array I have and he seperate 2TB drive. So from my understanding in order to achieve this I would have to by the full set of drives for the RAID 5 or 6 array then transfer my existing data on to the new array. Does that sound correct?

Also, would it be possible to add to the new array as I go? So say if I have 5x2TB drives and I need to add another drive, could I just plug it in and tell my hardware I want to add it and away I go?

[peterb]

Although not really relevant to this case, there is quite a good description of the capabilities , and more importantly, the limitations of Windows Home Server.

http://www.wegotserved.com/2008/09/2...-not-use-raid/

It isn't that you don't need RAID with WHS, it doesn't support it within the OS, but it dies provide a 'raid like' structure in that it replicates folders.

But, to return to the OP, as others have said, if you are using a hardware RAID controller, it depends on the card.

If you are using a software solution like learn (linux users) then you can play some quite sophisticated tunes, such as growing the array, and resizing filesystem on the fly.

There is a good description of RAID 5 here

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc938485.asp