Extending EVA Vdisk and propigating changes to Windows filesystem

[Adam Garsha]

Is this a workable process:

1. Increase the size of a Vdisk at the EVA SAN level. (disk already live and being used)

2. rescan drives in windows and observe that disk size freespace has changed.

3. After, extend a live/mounted filesystem with MS Windows?

Searching the web, I find that you can extend a volume (if you already have free space on your disk), but I am wondering if you can change the disk size itself (without corrupting pre-existing volumes and without interrupting services).

Does it require Dynamic Disk use vs. Basic? (if only a single primary partition on the Basic disk).

If the answer is yes, great! It would be easier to manage size at SAN level, then to have to present additional LUNs and make use of dynamic disks.

[Uwe Zessin · Accepted solution]

Yes, it works exactly that way.

For 3 you can use the DISKPART utility from Microsoft which is a simple line-mode program or the 'Storage Volume Growth' Software from HP which has a nice GUI. Both require basic disks.

[Andrzej Kowalik]

Hi Adam,
Diskpart support also dynamic disks
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325590
In Windows systems connected to SAN is recommeded to use basic disks - it could happen that dynamic disk disappear from system and for ever is visible as foreign disk without possibility to import.
regards,
Andrzej

[SAKET_5]

Hi Andrez,

Could you provide any HP/Microsoft official documentation regarding the dynamic disk issue in SAN environments that you seem to imply.... I have never come across that one!

Thanks.

[Mahesh1]

Hi,
U can use Storage Volume growth from hp,It is easy to use and good one.

Regards
Mahesh Gowda

[Andrzej Kowalik]

Saket,
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=816307
section "Starage Devices" and all regarding LDM database.
One of my customers lost your data... :((
regards,
Andrzej

[Layth Shasha]

Hi Adam
did you manage to extend the EVA Vdisk.
i have the same problem on a cluster node with basic disks and required to use diskpart, but windows says you need to have dynamic disks ?
any one and ideas.
thanks

[Steven Clementi]

Layth:

It would probably be best for you to start a new thread since your situation is not exactly the same as Adam's and it involves a cluster. Doing this would allow you to close out the thread then you finally have a solution, assinging points to those that may have helped you out and make comments as the author of the question.

Aside from all that...

Expanding a cluster disk is a bit different than expanding a stand alone server disk. You can still use diskpart. Diskpart usage requires certain conditions to be met though and for clusters... click here:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304736

It is easiest to use Storage Volume Growth as it is fully supported by HP where as diskpart is questionable. SVG is HP's answer to a fully supported end to end solution to extending Windows based disks utilizing EVA Storage.

Diskpart works with both Basic disks and Dynamic disks. Maybe you can post a screenshot of the error your getting when you start a new thread?


Steven

[Layth Shasha]

thanks Steven.
will do