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Hmmm. You might have a need for a little education on the smart array controller (sa)
Good thing you didn't destroy anything.
1. There's 2 utilities for configuring the sa. The ORCA, wich is the one you use, when you hit F8 during post.
The other, is the ACU, wich you use when the operating system is running (or boot on the smart start cd).
ORCA is quick, easy and simple.
For all the advanced stuff you'll need the ACU.
2. Arrays and LUN's.
When you create a RAID you are creating 2 things. An array (On other types of controllers they may use other names), and one or more LUN's.
An array is a number of physical disks, wich you want to use togther.
You must create at least 1 array, and you can create as many arrays, as you got physical disks.
A LUN is a logical disk, wich your os will see as a physical disk.
You must create at least 1 LUN and you can create multible LUN's on an array.
When you create a LUN, you also choose the RAID level (ei RAID 1).
You can create multible LUN's with different RAID levels, within an array.
Creating multible LUN's require the use of ACU.
Using orca (F8), you can create 1 LUN per array only.
Arrays is named by letters starting with A.
LUN's is numbered counting from 0.
A Smart Array controller, store the configuration on all the drives (Meta Data). So all drives hold a copy of the configuration and status of all arrays and LUN's, and the position of the physical disks.
Wich make it easy to replace a defective controller, defective disk or even move disks. A new controller will simply pickup the configuration from the disks.
I think You've got array A and array B on your server.
Then you remove array A, and create a new Array B.
Then you move the new array B, to the original sever, wich has got an array B, and it then ends up, not knowing what to do.
How to "grow" your disks?
Ensure you have got a good backup (Just in case)
If possible, you can also power down the server, and remove one of the disks, in a RAID 1. (Then you got an extra copy for roll back).
Repower the server with one diks only, in the RAID 1. Wait untill the sa has scanned the drives, and it will tell you that the RAID has got a missing member. Press F2 for interim recovery mode.
When the OS starts booting. Put in a new larger disk in the missing position. Wait for the new disk to rebuild. The power down remove the small disk, power up, wait, hit F2, and install the other large disk.
Wait for it to finish rebuild.
You now got to single copies of your old RAID 1 for rollback. Just remember in this case they must be put back in the original position, for them to work again.
If you can't or won't power down the server, simply hot swap the drives one by one. (You most likely havn't got a rollback)
When the rebuild has finished, you need to extend the LUN.
You extend the LUN using ACU.
Beware: if you have got mulitble LUN's on the array, you can extend the last LUN only. (That's a limitation on the smart array).
When you have finished the extension of the LUN's, you're ready for extending the partition.
You can use diskpart (Win2003 server) or tools like partition magic.
I prefer diskpart, but it can't extend the running boot disk (your C drive). You will need to boot on one of these boot tool CD's
Put in short:
1 - Backup
2 - Replace drives (1 by 1)
3 - Extend LUN
4 - Extend partition
Happy New Year
/jag
Good thing you didn't destroy anything.
1. There's 2 utilities for configuring the sa. The ORCA, wich is the one you use, when you hit F8 during post.
The other, is the ACU, wich you use when the operating system is running (or boot on the smart start cd).
ORCA is quick, easy and simple.
For all the advanced stuff you'll need the ACU.
2. Arrays and LUN's.
When you create a RAID you are creating 2 things. An array (On other types of controllers they may use other names), and one or more LUN's.
An array is a number of physical disks, wich you want to use togther.
You must create at least 1 array, and you can create as many arrays, as you got physical disks.
A LUN is a logical disk, wich your os will see as a physical disk.
You must create at least 1 LUN and you can create multible LUN's on an array.
When you create a LUN, you also choose the RAID level (ei RAID 1).
You can create multible LUN's with different RAID levels, within an array.
Creating multible LUN's require the use of ACU.
Using orca (F8), you can create 1 LUN per array only.
Arrays is named by letters starting with A.
LUN's is numbered counting from 0.
A Smart Array controller, store the configuration on all the drives (Meta Data). So all drives hold a copy of the configuration and status of all arrays and LUN's, and the position of the physical disks.
Wich make it easy to replace a defective controller, defective disk or even move disks. A new controller will simply pickup the configuration from the disks.
I think You've got array A and array B on your server.
Then you remove array A, and create a new Array B.
Then you move the new array B, to the original sever, wich has got an array B, and it then ends up, not knowing what to do.
How to "grow" your disks?
Ensure you have got a good backup (Just in case)
If possible, you can also power down the server, and remove one of the disks, in a RAID 1. (Then you got an extra copy for roll back).
Repower the server with one diks only, in the RAID 1. Wait untill the sa has scanned the drives, and it will tell you that the RAID has got a missing member. Press F2 for interim recovery mode.
When the OS starts booting. Put in a new larger disk in the missing position. Wait for the new disk to rebuild. The power down remove the small disk, power up, wait, hit F2, and install the other large disk.
Wait for it to finish rebuild.
You now got to single copies of your old RAID 1 for rollback. Just remember in this case they must be put back in the original position, for them to work again.
If you can't or won't power down the server, simply hot swap the drives one by one. (You most likely havn't got a rollback)
When the rebuild has finished, you need to extend the LUN.
You extend the LUN using ACU.
Beware: if you have got mulitble LUN's on the array, you can extend the last LUN only. (That's a limitation on the smart array).
When you have finished the extension of the LUN's, you're ready for extending the partition.
You can use diskpart (Win2003 server) or tools like partition magic.
I prefer diskpart, but it can't extend the running boot disk (your C drive). You will need to boot on one of these boot tool CD's
Put in short:
1 - Backup
2 - Replace drives (1 by 1)
3 - Extend LUN
4 - Extend partition
Happy New Year
/jag
