ACU array expansion question/help, please??

[Tom Lyczko]

We have an HP Proliant ML 350 G3 running Win2k3 with HP ACU installed.

I've put in 2 disks, 1 to be a spare, 1 to expand the array.

Can I safely expand the array while the server is in use?? (expanding requires using ACU)

Does the array expansion require a reboot??

The drive being added is a 73 GB Ultra 320, just like the other drives in the ML350, can anyone guess how long the expansion would take??

Am I correct to assume the array expansion will simply display an additional partition inside Win2k3?? (I ask because the other volumes are configured as dynamic disks)

If array expansion is too much of a hassle I will just set this disk to be another spare instead, which might be a better idea actually.

Thank you, Tom

[MDS-ALPA]

Make sure you restart server following adding the 2 new drives. Make sure you have a good backup or image prior to proceeding. Once in the ACU you should be able to select the Array and expand it to include 1 of the 2 disks then later designate the other as an online spare. Once the disk is added to the current array it may start to restripe, or you may have to tell it to extend/expand. I've never actually tried this, but have been working recently with expanding C-drive partitions that have begun running low on disk space because of the windows updates.
Check out Hiren's boot CD, and the Partition Magic Pro 8.5 there for boot partition increases.