RDP - how do I add another drive after the image is complete

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

Now that I have the image layed down. I want to create the E:\ drive. How do I do this.

Thanks

[Steven Clementi · Accepted solution]

Bryan:

Not sure exactly what you want to do or mean. If you have additional space, you can just go into ACU and configure another logical drive OR if already configured, go into Disk Administrator and initialize/format the available space.


If you want to "script" the process, you can use diskpart to initialize, partition and format the space, but it needs to beconfigured first through ACu if it was not done during the initial setup.


Steven

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

Thanks, I am wanting it totaly scripted. To where I dont have to log into the server. have the first part load the OS,(DONE), join to the donain, (working on) then then create the e:\ drive, then install all the software that is have scripted all with out any user intervention. I like to keep things simple.

[Steven Clementi]

Well... it is probably easiest to configure the array at the very beginning. If you have done that, then great.

Tell us the layout of the drives, type of server, etc.

In the meantime, I will think/work on a script for diskpart.


Windows 2003?


Steven

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

Steven, That would be awsome. I am messing around with it now. the server is a proliant blade with mirrored 128gb scsi hard drives. the only part. that is created is the c: drive at 12gb. the E: drive will use the rest of the space. i got it to create the second partition but not format it or anything else. windows 2003 srver sp1

Bryan

[Steven Clementi]

Is it 2 logical drives? with 1 partition each?


Or 1 Logical drive with 2 partitions?


Personally, I think it would be best to have 2 logical drives. 1 for c: and 1 for e:, but it's your call.


Steven

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

It is 1 logical with 2 partitions, The other logical drive is a mirror. Company standard..

[Steven Clementi]

Not sure if you understood me...

In the ACU, can you see 2 logical drives in the 1 array? or 1 logical drive?

OR

In Windows Disk Management, do you see Disk 0 and Disk 1 or Just Disk 0 with C: and free space for E:?


Steven

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

Sorry, Just Disk 0 with c: and then free space

[Steven Clementi]

Thank you.


I will play around a bit.

In the mean time... think about changing it. If you ever wanted to upgrade the hdd's in the future, it will make it easier to extend your data partition.


Steven

[Steven Clementi]

Ok.... here is the job properties...

First, create a new job, or add a task to the image deploy job to... copy come files to the local drive. Add the task at the end

You need 2 files..

diskpart.dp and doit.bat

In the diskpart.dp file... have these 3 lines...

select disk 0
create partition primary
assign letter=e

In the doit.bat file... have these 2 lines...

diskpart /s c:\diskpart.dp
pause
format e: /u /fs:NTFS /q /x /v:labelMe /y
pause

You can remove the "pause"'s and remember to change the "labelMe" to the label you want for the drive. Also change the path to diskpart.dp to the path you copy the file to. Diskpart.exe can be found in c:\windows\system32... so if ytou want to copy it there, thats fine. You can run a delete job later to get rid of it.. or make it part of the batch file.

Let me step you through...
diskpart /s c:\diskpart.dp
Runs the diskpart shell and the commands found in the sript "diskpart.dp"

format e: /u /fs:NTFS /q /x /v:labelMe /y
Runs the format command to make the disk usable. The command line switches do the following...

/u = unconditional. If any data exists, it will be destroyed.
/q = quick format
/x = forces the volume to dismount, if necessary
/v: = assigns as the diks label
/fs: = tells format to make the disk NTFS or FAT or FAT32
/y = Allows no user intervention

Feel free to remove the /q


In the new job or task, run doit.bat. Add the "pause"'s in to "see" it work. It should happen pretty quickly.

Also, since you have created the array config at the very beginning, then there is no need to play around with it since the logical drive is already there. IF you move to separate logical drives, then some modifications will need to be made. Just let me know.


Steven

[BRYAN SANDERS_1]

You rock. Thanks so much for your help.

[Steven Clementi]

If you change to two logical drives... then in the future, all you will need to do to expand/extend your data drive (if ever needed) is diskpart and ACU. If you continue as your are currently, you may need additional software.

I don't think you will gaine any performance from splitting into 2 logical drives, but I never compared the 2 configurations and could potentially see windows having slightly less (or maybe even more) overhead talking to separate logical drives vs. one logical drive with two partitions.

The only change you should need is in the dp file...

"select drive 0" becomes "select drive 1"


Steven