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Server with 1 HDD options for upgrade?

  • 02-10-2006 1:41pm
    #1
    Villain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,956 ✭✭✭✭


    Ok so I have a production server that has only 1 HDD so I want to introduce some hotswap backup ability like Raid 5 only as I understand it you can't convert/upgrade to Raid 5, well you can excluding the OS and Boot system.

    So I have a server with 1 HDD what options are available to me to provide secure redundancy, i.e. in the case of 1 HDD failing the system will continue to run and I just hotswap the old HDD?

    I'm not too familiar with disk mirroring so any ideas would be very welcome, now the solution needs to be very solid. I realise I may just have to rebuild the server from scratch but down time on this has be very little and there is a number of software solutions running on the server.

    Cheers.


Comments

  • #2
    layke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭layke


    http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/R/RAID.html

    TBh your going to need a min of 2 drives to mirror.

    However this is not as good as having 3 drives which will give you propper redunancy. Need 3 disks for hot swap in raid 5.

    You will lose your data if you destroy the array created and make a new one so you will prolly need to backup/ghost your files before proceeding.

    G'luck.


  • #3
    Villain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,956 ✭✭✭✭Villain


    Oh I understand I need at leats 2 more disks and maybe 3, but do I have to go a clean install to get the redunacy I need?


  • #4
    layke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭layke


    Well 1 more to mirror, 2 more for raid 5 + hotswap.
    but do I have to go a clean install to get the redunacy I need?

    Yup. Your going to have to destroy the array you've setup and recreate it.


  • #5
    Villain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,956 ✭✭✭✭Villain


    Ok so Mirroring is the only option I have without rebuilding, whats the best way to achieve mirroring?


  • #6
    layke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,956 ✭✭✭layke


    No, you don't understand. if you want to mirror you still need to destroy the array and recreate it thus losing all data.

    You will need to backup your data regardless of any changes you make to the hard disks array.


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  • #7
    seamus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 68,317 ✭✭✭✭seamus


    Good practice would dictate that you back up your data before performing any type of hard disk changes :)

    Your only option without rebuilding is to set up a second machine and run file replication between the two machines.

    This however, is far more complex, time consuming and expensive than taking an image of your existing disk, building a mirrored array and loading the image onto the array.


  • #8
    Villain
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,956 ✭✭✭✭Villain


    Ah ok I thought that might be the case, so Seamus would the following be the best idea:

    Take an image of the current drive.
    Install Raid controller and 3 NEW Drives
    Configure raid
    Copy image to the array

    So whats the best way to make an image of server 2003 with exchange, Symantec Ghost?

    Thanks


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