topic Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

Lane Roush — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 13:58:02 GMT

I am currently running a Compaq ML530 (866mhz) with a Smart Array 5300. I have 6 36 gig drives in it setup as one logical drive RAID5. I want to add another Disk cage and add another 6 36 gig drives. I want to just extend that one logical drive. I have a C and a D parition. My exchange database is on the D drive. So basically I just want to make my D drive bigger by adding the 6 36 gig drives. Is this possible? If so do I expand the array then extend the logical drive? How does the logical drive know to put the rest of the space on D? If it doesn't do I just use a program like parition magic? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

JohnWRuffo — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 18:05:07 GMT

Lane:

This can be done with the Array Configuration Utility on your Smart Start CD by following the directions in this PDF:
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/products/servers/proliantstorage/drives-enclosures/Procedures%20of%20expanding%20active%20volume%20with%20W2000.pdf

Here is the ACU Users Guide:
ftp://ftp.compaq.com/pub/supportinformation/techpubs/user_reference_guides/239449-004_rev4_us.pdf

One more thing that is very important; you will need two power supplies to run the second cage with drives. You MUST have two or the drives will not spin up.
http://partsurfer.hp.com/cgi-bin/spi/showphoto?partnumber=157793-001

Hopoe this helps! -john

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

Lane Roush — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:21:38 GMT

Awesome I will do that. Now after I extent the Logical drive. How should I go about extending my D drive/partition?

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

JohnWRuffo — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:28:29 GMT

If you are using Win2K; downlaod DiskPart.exe from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/
and follow the instructions on page 8 of the whitepaper I linked above.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

JohnWRuffo — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 19:34:15 GMT

Here are some technotes to help you:
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325590&Product=win2000

and:

http://support.microsoft.com/search/default.aspx?InCC_hdn=true&Catalog=LCID%3D1033%26CDID%3DEN-US-KB%26PRODLISTSRC%3DON&withinResults=&QuerySource=gASr_Query&Product=win2000&Queryc=diskpart.exe&Query=diskpart.exe&KeywordType=ALL&maxResults=25&Titles=false&numDays=&InCC=on

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

Vijay_44 — Wed, 01 Sep 2004 20:15:49 GMT

Any kind of modification to the volume in windows (using windows utilities) will only work if the volume was originally created on a dynamic disk; if it was created on a basic disk you may need to use some disk 3rd party disk tools.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

Lane Roush — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 12:28:45 GMT

I forgot to add I'm running Windows NT 4.0 on this box.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

JohnWRuffo — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 14:14:06 GMT

Lane:

Diskpart.exe and all the notes I posted are not good for you. NT4 does not have native support for this kind of expansion.
There should be some third party software out there that can do this (without the backup data / delete and rebuild partiton / restore data requirements)
I am not sure if PartitonMagic will work; you need to contact Symantec sales support and ask them the direct question if this product will do this for you.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

Lane Roush — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 14:32:18 GMT

Awesome. Basically I talked with them...and they stated as long as when you extend the logical drive it keeps it on Disk 0 and doesnt create another one their product will work. Do you happen to know if it keeps it on disk 0 in NT 4.0? I tried it on a 2k machine and it works fine. thanks for your help.

Re: ML530 Smart Array 5300 Extend logical drive

JohnWRuffo — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 15:02:21 GMT

By disk0 I think they mean you only have one array built in the server. As you explained it, you only have one... so I would think you are good to go!
Be sure you have a good backup just in case!

G'luck! -john