Expand or extand array

[KoosvH]

I have a Proliant ML350 G4 with a Smart Array Controller 641, running Windows 2003 server with SP1.
In Windows we have three partitions: C, D and E. C: is the System OS, D: and E: are for data.
Because D: and E: are running out of diskspace we replaced the disks by greater capacity ones.
First I upgraded Window's array driver, SystemROM and rom on the 641-controller. I also use the latest vesion of the System Management Homepage and the ACU.
Yesterday I replaced the three drives one-by-one. This gave no problems.
Now I am informed that I have to follow these steps:
1. Use ACU to EXPAND array
2. Use ACU to EXTEND logical drive
3. Use DISkPART to drives D: and E:

BUT: In the ACU (launched from Windows 2003) I see the array with one Logical Drive (139 GByte) and Unused Space (211 Gbyte).
When I select the logical drive I have four options on the right side of the screen:
Migrate Raid
Extend Size
Delete
More Info.

When I select the Unused Space I only have one option: Create Logical Drive.

Where is the option to Expand the array.

What is the right procedure? Expand (HOW?) , create logical drive or Extend Size?
Can this be done online or do I have to use the SmartStart CD?

Koos

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P.S. This Thread has been moved from Servers --> General to Servers --> Proliant (ML,DL,SL) - Forum Moderator

[Michael Richter]

one feature form the SA641 is the " Logical drive capacity extension (online)" .. so yes its possible to do this online.

just select your logical drive and extend the logical volume

cheers mike

[KvH]

Thanks for your reply.
So you say: Extend logical volume.
When I select the existing Logical volume I can choose: Extend Size. Is that the option I need?
The ACU User Guide says: not all operating systems support logical drive extension through ACU (page 25) I am using Windows 2003 server.
Is this yet possible?

Koos van Harmelen

[Michael Richter]

Koos,

thats the option. I've tested with Win2000 -> it works. But be sure to have a fullbackup, 'murphys law' is everywhere ;)

cheers Mike

[KvH]

I am now extending the logical volume.
I don't see any progress-%.
I select the logical drive in ACU and select More Information. No progress bar.
Only the Status says: Background Parity Initializing/Queued.

In ACU, Status Message, I see this message:
#785 Background parity initialization is currently queued or in progress on logical drive 1 ( RAID 5 in array A). If background parity initialization is queued, it will start when I/O is performed on the drive. When background parity initialization completes, the performance of the logical drive will improve.

How do I know if extending is running fine?
On the three disks the orange leds (Led 2) are "Flashinh", saying The drive is rebuilding or undergoing capacity expansion.

Koos

[KoosvH]

Solved. After I started the extending Logical Volume process in ACU I did something else. When I came back at the server-console, 1 hour later, I saw nothing happening . . . because the extending had finished. I had expected that the process would take very long.
In Windows Disk Manager I could see unassigned space, so the extending has successfully finished.

Koos

[jvtexas]

Will these steps work for extending the C drive; which contains the OS?

I want to add another 146gig HD for a total of 4 in the array.
Right now I just want to extend the C drive from 20 to 40gig.
Later on I want to extend the existing data drive (F) or add another drive.

[KvH]

The array contains one logical drive with three Windows partitions (C:, D: and E:). I expanded the array with the ACU. Partition C: is the system partition. These expanding-process gave no problems.
With Windows' DiskPart utility I could extend the partitions D: and E:. But I first had to create free space "between" D: and E:.
Remember: with diskPart you cannot extend a partition with the system on it.