Array configuration in ML 150 server

[thakadi]

I have a new proliant ML 150 server with 750*4 HDD, is it possible for me to configure RAID5 in 4 Hardisk, or better configure RAID1 to get maximum storage capacity. which RAID configuration is best. How can we configure 2 RAIDs in one server with single RAID controller. Please anyone help me.

[Cederberg]

yes its possible to configure a RAID5 over 4 disks. but you will use up quite much diskspace to have backup of the data.

You can use a raid 1+0 to mirror the disk 2+2 to get the a good redundancy.

You can configure more arrays on one raid controller. One way is to configure one array when you install and then use the Array Configuration Utility to create the other array when windows is installed.

[thakadi]

so if i want to create RAID0+1 in 2 HDD for installing OS, and 3 HDD with RAID5 for application, what is the procedure. first create RAID 1 and install os, after OS installation only we create RAID 5 ? or during the initial installation itself can we create both Arrays with smartstart, i mean with smartstart itself can we creat 2 RAID's and install OS in RAID 1. please help me

[Cederberg]

If you have only four harddrives you can't do a raid 1+0 and a RAID 5. If you have 5 drives thats no problem.

I think you can create both raid arrays from smartstart but i'm not sure we never use it. We install from Rapid deployment and then use ACU as mentioned above.

I would do it like this if it's windows. Pop in the smartstart and create the raid 1+0 and install Windows and proliant supportpack. Then i would use the ACU to create the raid 5.

As we don't use smartstart for our installations i don't know if its possible to create both in there.

One place it would work to create both is in the "raid bios" you would see it in post if like press Button to configure raid if it's avalible on that raid controller..