Add New HDD in DL380 G6

[AleksandarNikolic]

I have two questions, first one is how to add new hdd, don't need array, in configured DL380 g6 server with already installed RAID 1 and win 2k8 on it. I need that drives for Virtual machines
Second is on separate , second G6 now is configured one SBS 2008 on G6 server, I am interested in adding new hard drives, booting from them and installing new Server R2 2008 so I can install Hyper V after. BUT main question is how to add another raid, install Win 2k8 R2 on that raid ,but since that I will do that during weekend and probably not finish (have to instal Hyper V, after create new Virtual machine and put SBS 2008 on it), how to change setting to boot again from old raid with SBS 2008, so that on Monday everything is as it was before. Mandatory is to old SBS functions I cannot remove that RAID

[Markus M. · Accepted solution]

Hi Alexa,

1st: Just insert the disk, start the ACU and create a volume on the single disk. open your disk management in windows and make a disc rescan. thats it.

2nd: ..is a little bit harder. IMO the best way not to mix up the two installations/RAIDs, is to eject the installed hdds, insert the new ones, configure the new RAID and install win R2. On sunday evening, just shut down your new installation and swap the disks again.
As the RAID config is saved on the disks itself, the old array will "come back" as before..

kind regards
Markus

[Diego Castelli]

Hi, you should hot-add hard disks in those server models.
simply remove the small plastic panel and insert the disk, making attetion to use the lever mechanism to properly place it in.
after that you can use ACU (from inside windows) or ORCA (pressing F8 at right time during boot) to create new RAIDs and LUNS.

for the second question:
simply create a new RAID and LUN with ACU or ORCA, then boot with windows DVD and select that drive (the empty one, pay attention) as installation destination. The installer will add/modify the bootloader on the first disk to have a multi-boot.


Then, once the process of importing the physical to virtual machine is completed, you can choose to risk to remove initial disk drives and use the Windows DVD to fix the surely broken boot loader or you can choose to keep stuff in the same place.


otherway it is possible to:
-backup the current disks with an imaging software (like acronis or other).
-lift out the disks
-insert the new ones
-install windows and hyper-v
-insert older disks in the last slots

At this point you should see RAID and all data from older disks recreated as secondary RAID and you can use this.
Then you can remove drives without breaking windows installation.

ANYTHING IS AT YOUR OWN RISK.
The safer path is to leave disks in their current location even after the P2V migration is completed.

HTH BYE

[AleksandarNikolic]

Thanks for quick response.
About first I don't have any more questions , except that I won't hot swap it because I have SATA disk and I think they don't support that possibility, or that depends out of P410i controller.

About second, LUN is logical unit or not ??What is IMO and can you send me link to documentation ? And if I eject installed HDD are you sure that they will remember RAID config on HDD, if I eject disks and not be able to restore raid again I will be in serious problem.
I don't want to make dual boot, I need to create domain with the same name ..... so that can be maybe a problem.
Thanks
p.s. I just saw thatI have some RAID 1 configured already on that server, can I just reconfigure it to use different slots, now it uses 5 and 8 . And than just insert there hdd and boot from that raid somehow. Maybe to eject those installed HDD with IMO and just boot with new one. If yes can you provide me documentation please. Thanks

[Diego Castelli]

Hi Alexa,
Quick responses:

-In the DL380 you CAN hot-add and hot-swap
-LUN means logical unit
-IMO means In My Opinion
-i'm "almost" sure that they'll remember raid configuration: i've done it a lot of time, but never know what can happen. That's why i'd suggest you to backup with an imaging software.
-if you don't want dual boot, you need to make those secondary drives/LUN first in the system, to boot only from there. So you need to eject present drives.

i don't understand your P.S.

[AleksandarNikolic]

Can you send me some documentation how to eject HDD, and how to make secondary LNU drives / first.
Do I need to make partition image or image of entire disk ?

[Diego Castelli]

Hotplug HDD installation poster.
http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00287810/c00287810.pdf

nice read on your server.
http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/quickspecs/13234_na/13234_na.pdf

ACU Guide
http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00729544/c00729544.pdf


to make secondary Disks presented first to the machine, you have to insert them first in the slots and have first LUN (LUN number 1) on those disks/raid. The second part is more important.

You can either make a disk image or a partition image: it depends on your needs.

if you have only one partition, those two process are equivalent.

TIPS and TRICKS:
for finding manuals quickly, consider googling something like:" array configuration utility manuals site:hp.com "

or go directly to hp.com->support and software and search for your product.

Although sometimes it's hard to find very special parts info, most of times works simple, fast and you don't have to wait a response from me or anyone else...

HTH
Bye!