VA7100 Question

[Amiel Tutolo]

I have a VA7100 currently installed with 10 36GB drives. I am wanting to add 73GB drives, I know this can be done. Our reseller says I have to add 4 of these to the array but we won't get much space due to overhead. Here are my questions:
1) Do I have to add 4 73GB drives?
2) How much space do I gain? I figure 263GB.
I based this on losing only 1 73GB drive and not a 36GB drive for hot spare. Is this true as well?
3) If I have to add 4 73GB drives then from a cost/gb am I better off adding 4 more 36GB drives, which are about $600/drive cheaper?

Just some thoughts I am having. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[Patrick Wallek]

1) I don't know.
2) It depends on your config. What array mode are you in? Do you have Active Hot Spare turned on?

Here are some scenarios for you:

Autoraid mode - Active Hot Spare=AUTO -
10 x 36 GB drives = 215.4 GB Usable
10 x 36GB drives + 4 x 73GB drives = 411 GB Usable

Autoraid mode - Active Hot Spare=0 -
10 x 36 GB drives = 246 GB Usable
10 x 36GB drives + 4 x 73GB drives = 461 GB Usable

RAID 1+0 Mode -
10 x 36 GB drives = 163.4 GB Usable
10 x 36GB drives + 4 x 73GB drives = 297 GB Usable

In RAID 1+0 mode the tool gave the same capacity numbers no matter what Active Hot Spare was set to.

[Victor Fridyev · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Try this tool

HTH

[Ted Buis]

I would fill the remainder with 5 drives of 73GB and have one active hot spare.