Create a new RAID 1 with existing hard drive without losing data

[Sandeep9]

Hi All,

We have two internal disks in BL 460C G10 blade (in C7000) and on one of them the OS is installed and rest of the app data is also stored. The another disk is not in use.

Now, we want to create a RAID 1 from these disks. Is it possible to do this without losing data?

[Torsten.]

It depends.
If the dis currently is a RAID0 you can extend to RAID1, if it is a plain disk you need to backup and restore.

[Sandeep9]

Hi Torsten,

No, we haven't configured any raid, its just a separate disk.

Is there any way we could put these disk (one used + one used) in RAID1 and mirror the used disks data onto another disk.

[Torsten.]

It depends on what disk controller model is used.

[Sandeep9]

Hi Torsten,

We have "HPE Smart Array P204i-b SR Gen10" disk controller. FW - 2.62

[Torsten.]

I think it should be possible to create a RAID0 on the other drive, copy your data and finally extend the RAID0 to RAID1.

[Sandeep9]

Hi Torsten,

How to copy data? Are you talking about rsync?

[Jimmy Vance]

If currently the disk is not in a RAID array, there really isn't a simple path to get to where you want to be without destroying the data on the disk. 

[Torsten.]

Consider a disk cloner of your choice, clonezilla etc.
Depends on your OS.

[Sandeep9]

Hi Torsten,

If i use dd to clone the used hard disk with the another unsed one (which i add to RAID0), will it work?

Will the cloning of hard drive from dd in rhel7 will do tht work?