ML150 Raid 1 resize

[J. Muurling]

We have a ML150 server with MS SBS2003 on it. This server is our domain controler and mail server.
The system is configured as Raid 1. When we installed this sytem we used 2 drives of 130 GB. In the meantime these 2 original drives were broken (one at a time) and we replaced each disk with a bigger one.
The controler is a onboard SAS controler.

The problem now is that a lot of the capacity is not used.
I want to increase the RAID 1 size.
It looks that this is not possible with the MegaRAID Storage Manager, but it sees that the disks we used are 279GB.

What can I do to increase the RAID 1 size?
If you need more information please let me know.
Thanks in advance for the help.

[Michael A. McKenney]

You could change RAID 1 to RAID 10 by adding two drives. Call LSI Logic, the MegaRAID can expand arrays. You might need a firmware upgrade. You can add two more SAS drives same size and expand. the only catch is did you enable coercion algorithm on the MegaRAID. If not, it could be a problem expanding the array.

The second choice is adding a second RAID 1 array and moving your apps/data to it. Leave the OS on the first array only.

[Michael A. McKenney]

Once you change to RAID 10, you need to expand the Windows partition. You have to move the paging file off of that array. You can't expand a logical partition with a paging file on it. That is why adding a second RAID 1 array and moving your apps/data is a better choice.

[J. Muurling]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for you answers but the thing is that I replaced the 2 small broken disks for 2 new bigger disks.
I just want to resize the current mirror.

Is it an idea to:
- convert the mirror to a JBOD
- create a new mirror from the JBOD
or are there better ideas?

[Michael A. McKenney]

Leave it RAID 1 for redundancy. You might need to remove the paging file to expand the Windows partition. 2008 R2 can expand a non-paging partition. You might need Server Magic or a tool from Acronis to expand the Windows OS partition on SBS 2003.

http://www.partition-magic-server.com/partition-magic/partition-magic-sbs-2003.html

[J. Muurling]

Hi Michael,

I checked the system but in MegaRaid I see the actual size of physicaldisks (each 279 GB). The logical size of the mirror is 135 GB and I cannot see how I can resize the logical mirror.
To resize the partition I have to increase the mirror first, or not?

[Michael A. McKenney]

You would need to expand the MegaRAID array first or create a second array and move applications to it. What options do you have in the MegaRAID to expand the array? Which MegaRAID controller is it.

I usually do one array per RAID set. Backup first. Once you expand the array, you can expand the Windows partition using a third party tool.