SMART Predictive Failure - 641 Controller

[Bill Vogel]

This morning one of the drives (drive 0) in my Raid 5 array indicated a S.M.A.R.T. predictive failure error. The drive is on an HP 641 Smart Array Controller. There is a spare drive available. I ordered a new replacement drive (404709-001). The server is a Windows 2003 SBS (Small Business Server) R2 - SP2.

Server is ML350 G4P

Once the new drive arrives can I just remove the drive in error and replace with the new one?

Once the errant drive is removed will the hot spare begin building data automatically?

Should I wait till the spare drive completes?

What is the sequence to follow?

Thanks,

Bill V

[Peter Jam]

Bill,
RAID 5 means you can pull one drive out and replace it with an identical drive and it will immediately start building that drive. That is what makes Raid 5 worth the effort and cost