Breaking RAID Arrays

[Ayman Altounji]

We have a DL380 to test for a few days before it goes into production. We have 2 x 18gb RAID1 operating system disks set up. Is it possible to break the array, and have the server operate only on the one disk? IE, use the other disk on another server as a data disk, for instance?

We also have a 36gb disk set up on the DL380 for data. What are the exact steps I'd need to take to transfer the disk to another DL380 and have that server use the data on the disk?

[Ayman Altounji]

An hardware Array cannot be broken. If one of the drives are removed to be used in another unit, a POST Error will appear complaining that the drive is missing or need to be failed. The only way to use the other mirror drive in another unit is by placing another clean drive in its slot. First you would have to fail that slot that the drive was removed from, which mean the drive can no longer be used in that array
which has been updated and the Array controller has that information. Next you will have to place a brand new drive in the slot and the Array will go into a rebuild or interim recovery mode and stripe the information onto that new drive and signature it to be a part of the Raid-1.

[Ayman Altounji]

Thanks for the response - confirmed my suspicions. How about the second question? Is it possible to rip out a (RAID0) disk and use it elsewhere - with the data remaining intact?

[Ayman Altounji]

If the Raid-0 is setup on the Array controller as separate Array, Raid-0 can be deleted from the Array. Example. Array A is Raid-5 and Array B is Raid-0. Access Compaq Array Configuration Utility from Smart Start. All the drive lights will be flashing while you are inside of the ACU. Remove the 36gb hard drive from its slot. Next, highlight the Array that holds the Raid-0, in which the Raid-0 should be by itself in the Array and delete. Controler Save configuration and reboot the system. Make sure that before the Raid-0 is remove, check with OS that Raid-0 was not spanned or Volume Extended with other space. Take 36.gb hard drive and connect drive to the same port in 2nd DL380. If the Raid-0 will be added where other Arrays exist, the Array ctlr will detect the hard drives has an Array configured and place the information on its cache on POST. Access ACU that the Array looks fine.