topic Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable in Disk Enclosures

Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 01:54:38 GMT

Hi,

In a RAID5 configuration with 4 disks I added a fifth disk and expanded the array. The disk is divided in 4 partitions of which I expanded the last partition with diskpart. Diskmanagement reports the disk as 135GB, but Windows Explorer reports the disk as 94 GB. The disk is initialized as "basic", could this be the problem? I tried rebooting the server, without results..

OS: Windows 2000 Server SP4
System: Compaq DL 380
Controller: SmartArray 5i controller with 5 36GB disks

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Jayasuntar — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 04:55:04 GMT

Dear Wesley,

This might help u..

Microsoft Windows [Version 5.2.3790]
(C) Copyright 1985-2003 Microsoft Corp.

C:\> DISKPART

Microsoft DiskPart version 5.2.3790
Copyright (C) 1999-2001 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: MCSS2

DISKPART> LIST DISK

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt

-------- ---------- ---------- ------- --- ---

Disk 0 Online 8 GB 0 B

Disk 1 Online 5114 MB 0 B

Disk 2 Online 210 GB 10 GB

Disk 3 Online 20 GB 0 B

Disk 4 Online 20 GB 0 B

DISKPART> SELECT DISK 2

Disk 2 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> LIST PART

Partition ### Type Size Offset

------------- ---------------- ------- -------

Partition 1 Primary 200 GB 32 KB

DISKPART> SELECT PART 1

Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> EXTEND

DiskPart successfully extended the volume.

Use link.. http://www.microsoft.com/technet/itsolutions/msit/operations/diskpartnoteonIT.mspx

Regards

jay

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 06:55:13 GMT

Unfortunately Jay, I think Wesley is already past that point.

Wes... Diskpart has a known issue, and it is exactly what your experiencing. I posted about this once or twice before and will have to find the thread. Basically, the solution is to call Microsoft and have them help you "tell" Explorer that the disk has been expanded.

I will try to find the article again... and the thread.

Steven

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 07:12:51 GMT

Take alook here...

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=961688

Steven

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Mon, 24 Oct 2005 07:18:41 GMT

Hi,

Thanks for your help! I will try the hotfix and keep you informed!

regards,
Wesley

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 04:06:30 GMT

Hi,

I contacted Microsoft concering the patch and installed it (despite the patch being part of W2K servicepack 4) and rebooted the machine. Unfortunately without any result..the expanded capacity of the disk is still not usable for file storage. Anyone more ideas?

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 07:49:52 GMT

Wesley:

Did you try the "extend Filesystem" command in diskpart?

I am going to try to replicate this issue today, and do some testing.

Steven

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 10:36:04 GMT

Steven,

Great tip! Unfortunately my diskpart version doesn't recognize the extend filesystem command! I did a search on google and found this link http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=832316. The problem described concerns a windows xp installation. The diskpartversion on my w2k server is 5.1.3553, do you think a new diskpartversion will do the trick?

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 10:45:44 GMT

Yes, that is the same link I provided in the other thread i referenced.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;832316

I am not sure if you can easily transport a newer version of diskpart, lets say the WIndows 2003 version, to a windows 2000 box and have it work properly.

I am going to try to replicate the issue and see if it works.

My best guess is that it would work, but am unsure of how safe it is.

Steven

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 13:39:52 GMT

Can't replicate the issue. Of course, I am trying on a Dl380G4, not a G3 and only 2 disks.

Sorry.

Still my best guess would be to try the Win2k3 version of diskpart. Probably would be more compatible than the Xp version. Yes, all 3 are different. Maybe you can get MS buyin or blessing first.

Steven

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Fri, 04 Nov 2005 02:35:34 GMT

Steven,

Thanks for your reply! I'll contact Microsoft and keep you informed.

regards wesley

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Wesley Staal — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:12:37 GMT

Hi,

I found a way to solve the problem! I installed HP Volume Growth software on the system and used is to extend the filesystem! Works fine..bit expensive, but it worked!!

Re: Expanded diskspace RAID 5 not usable

Steven Clementi — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 11:42:50 GMT

Wes:

Yes, SVG would be the way to go if you have an EVA and a Windows environment. I didn't mention it since you already had diskpart and used it.

SVG is HP's "supported" tool for End to End configuration of a Windows environment utilizing an EVA.

Steven