Having trouble expanding our Array....not option to do it

[davidf82]

We have a ML350 server with a Raid5 setup using 4 drives (146.8GB) slots 0-3. We just purchased 3 additional 146GB drives that we wish to expand the array with. However I can't seem to expand the array. In windows diskmanagement the array shows up as a 1 basic drive (c:) at 410GB.

Now using the Array config utility after putting in 2 additional spare drives they show up as unassigned drives at slots 4 & 5. If i click on Array A i do not have an option to expand the array nor expand the logical drive. Only option I do get is to Migrate or delete logical drives.

With the new hard drives I am able to create a new Array (B) and make logical drives however again I can not expand array A's logical drives. How or why can't i expand the Array A logical drives? I appreciate all the help. Thank you

I attached images showing disk managment, and how the drives show up in the array utility.

[davidf82]

Array configuration screenshot

[Víctor Cespón]

You must add the new drives to array A. Delete array B and leave the drives as unassigned. Then expand the array with the unused drives.
Then you'll have an empty space on array A to be able to extend the logical unit.
After this Windows will see a bigger disk with the old partition and free space.
The SMart Array controller does not modify the data or filesystem, that has to be done by the operating system.

[davidf82]

That's the problem I did that. I erased Array B, left the 2 drives as unassigned. Then if i clicked on array A, theres no options to expand the local drives or the array. Only option I do get is to delete the local drive.

This is where I am stuck. How come the option is not available to expand Array A??

[Víctor Cespón]

When you select the Array A, what options do you have?
Check ACU manual, page 24

http://docs.hp.com/en/9320/acu.pdf

Also check the models and size of the disks. I remember some cases where the new disks were a little smaller than the existing ones, so they could not be added to the RAID without deleting everything first.

[davidf82]

When i click on the Array A i get the following options:

controller settings
migrate a logical drive
delete logical drives
clear configurations
create array
delete array
==============

thats it.. no options to expand...

However i think i might have found the problem. Can you look at the pick i attached. The person before me who setup the server put the system partion on the same drive as the array with all the apps and data. Is this the reason i can't expand? I believe that you can't expand system partions regardless basic or dynamic (my case basic).

If this is true what options are available to me? Because on the C: drive are are applications and data.

thank you again

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Do you have the BBWC (Battery Backed Write Cache) option installed on the SmartArray 641 ?

I seem to remember reading somewhere that you need this to support array expansion...

Cheers,

Rob

[davidf82]

Not sure if that option is enabled. Where would i go to configure this? Do I still use the array config utility? Under controller settings there is no option for that.

Attached is a pic of the array controller settings.

[Rob Leadbeater]

Hi,

Your picture shows that you don't have any battery packs installed, so you don't have the BBWC option.

The user guide for the 641 here:

http://bizsupport.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01127202/c01127202.pdf

on page 5-11 states, "The condition of the battery and cache should both be OK" as a condition of being able to expand an array. As you don't appear to have a battery installed, that's why you can't do the expansion.

Cheers,

Rob

[Rob Leadbeater]

A quick search on PartSurfer, http://partsurfer.hp.com shows that you probably need to purchase part number 351580-B21, "128MB Battery Backed Write Cache (BBWC) - For Smart Array 641 Ultra320 Controller or Smart Array 642 Ultra320 Controller - Includes memory and battery".

Cheers,

Rob