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Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

 
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dhot
Occasional Contributor

Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

We have a HP ProLiant DL380 G2 Server with the Smart Array 5i Controller without any additive-accessories like BBWC. Now i would like to expand the array online!!!
In some postings they say that is only possible with the bbwc (battery backed write cache). In other postings they say you don't need it for online-expanding. My question is what is right??
I know that the new P400 Controller need that for expanding.

Another question: is it possible to exchange all small disks (4 x 18 GB) SUCCESSIVELY with big disk (4 x 72 GB), so that i can increase the volume and expand the second-partition from windows at the end ?

Thx for postings
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gregersenj
Honored Contributor
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Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

I don't think you need the BBWC

Look at page 24 & 25 in the manual:
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00709035/c00709035.pdf?jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN
It does say, without WBCC, it takes a longer time.

Yes it is possible to upgrade to larger drives.
If you're using RAID 0, then offcourse you can't.
Simply replace 1 drive, wait for it to finish rebuilding, then replace the next.
Repeate untill all drives are upgraded.

Then If your OS support it, you can extended the LUN.
If you got more than 1 LUN, you can only extend the last one (I'm not 100% sure on this, but so far i havn't found anyone who know).

As usual, I'll recommend to ensure, that you got a backup, and disastaer recovery plan.

br
/jag

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gregersenj
Honored Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

Note:

You will get the expend option in the ACU, when! you have installed additional drive(s).

/jag

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gregersenj
Honored Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

dhot
Occasional Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

Thx for the answers.
Now i have exchange the four 18GB Disks with four 72GB Disks and after that i can really expand without BBWC. The Controller works (expand) since 20std. and 88% is ready however it start at 75%.
gregersenj
Honored Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

:)
It will take a few hours for it to expand.
I never did pay attention to the %, where it starts and so on.
Give it untill next day, then you will have a lot of free space on your array.

Then you can extend you LUN, If you OS support it.
Or you can create new LUN's

Cheers
/jag

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dhot
Occasional Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

The Controller needed 2-3 days to expand from 54GB to 216GB.
But Windows 2003 needed one second to extend the partition with diskpart, very nice!!!
gregersenj
Honored Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

2-3 days, was that the full operation?
Replacing disks, adding disk, expanded array and extending the LUN?

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dhot
Occasional Contributor

Re: Smart Array 5i (DL380 G2) disks expand and exchange without BBWC??

Yes,
Replacing disk and reconstruction >> per disk 20-30min
Online-Array expanding (50 to 210 GB) >> 2-3 Days
Partition Expanding from Windows 2003 with diskpart >> one second