DL360 Array Help

[hassan mir]

so where does the partition magic fit it ,,,
what would my E and F look like after this?

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

OK when last rebuild finish you will free space =36 GB.
Your logical drive C: E: F: will be same.
You need Partition Magick to tell where to allocate new free space.
F: + free space

Partition MAgick Extend your files system.

[hassan mir]

which drive has the free space? that was the part i was confused,, since we have two drives now?

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

no You have only one drive :)))
Array A :) this is your physical disk :)
And you make 3 locical disk C: E: F:
Now you add free space into Array A which is your physical disk and you can extend any logical DRIVE.

Did you spen some time reading info about Partition Magick ?

[hassan mir]

i know about partition magic , just wasnt sure it works on arrays like this one,, i thought i works on stand alone drives that are not in a RAID

if i have have one drive as you saying and i use partition magic to increase the size of C,E and F the way i like --- before the partition magic i have this scenario of my one or first drive

C , D and E and 36 G of unused space
this is mirroed to
Seconde drive that also would have C,D, E and 36 G of unsed space (its a funtion of array/controller and not Windows as u said)

after partion magic was applied to first drive i would have this

C,D and E and no unsed space = 72 Gb

we are not changing anything on drive 2 so partion on the 2nd drive would be same and i would have this

C, D and E and 36 Gb of unsed space?

i thought i would have still 36 Gb mirrored and not 72G?

so lets say my drive(ine the frist bay) dies in two days and i pulls the 2nd drive and place in the first bay and place a new one in the 2nd drive bay ,, would it be exaclty the same at point in time as the one i am pulling out?

i know i am stupid on this :) just making sure we are on the same page

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

Ok :)
When you include 2 X 72GB disk into array and you have RAID 1

Physical 2X 72GB = 144 GB
Logical you have only 72 GB

you already allocate 36 GB logical space for array A.
Windows see this array like a 1 physical disk with 36GB.
When you allocate 36 gb more to Array A
you tell windows that you have biger physical drive.


It is the same that you have first
72 gb and you use Fdisk to allocate only 36.
and now you can use free space to extend Logical disk.
Windows do not know that disk is array or normal physacal disk nor do Fdisk.
You can not use Fdisk :) Fdisk can only make new logical disk.
As you say you need extend F: disk
This can be done by Partition magick
the same way as a regular disk.

[hassan mir]

ok so what happnes when one physical drive fails?

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

If we finish all task :)
Noting :)
You can remove one drive in any time :)
Noting will happen.
This is RAID 1 .
You have 2 identical disk /physical/

[hassan mir]

one thing i just found out,, Partition Maggic does not work on Windows 2000 server?

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

Look on that

http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/

Current Version: 8.0

Platforms: Windows® XP Home/XP Pro/2000 Pro/NT WS/Me/98/95

[hassan mir]

yes, i did and downloaded it,, it wont install on Windows 2000 SERVER,, but it does install on Windows 2000 just fine,,,

[Michael Duke_1]

Download DISKPART from Microsoft and use that to expand the Windows volumes.

[hassan mir]

how about this one

http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/diskdirector/partitioning.html

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

I never try that

[hassan mir]

i think Diskpart is command line ,, based on what i have what would be the script to run for diskpart ,, to get to where i need to be?

thanks

[Michael Duke_1]

Diskpart

List volume

select volume x (Where x is the volume to expand)

extend

exit

exit

[hassan mir]

ok,, got it

so here are the steps u outlined

1. You have two slots
put one of your 72 GB disk on secound slot.
2. start ACU and extend your array A ( first array)
3.wait for extend it will take 30 min
4. change RAID level form 0 to 1+0
5. wait for rebuild
6. Remove 36 gb disk and replace it with secound 72.gb disk
7. wait for rebuild
8. it is all

And then use Diskpart to extend the partition

How long you think the whole procedure will last? Any last minute 2nd thoughts?

Thanks

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

it will take 3-4 hour without fs extention.

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

for me procedure is clear and it will work :)
Do you see any problem ?
For me it work :))

Do must be CAREFUL.

Make backup anyway.

Tell my any step that you done.
I will try to guide you.

[hassan mir]

well i wish i knew for sure :)

I was hoping someone else from this forum will give their 2 cents on this one?

Lets hope so

Thanks

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

now what ? :)))))

[hassan mir]

i will proceed with the process ,, i was hoping someone else would give some input but i guess u r the only guru around here :)

[Ivajlo Yanakiev]

Any problem ?