Partition resizing tools & Smart Array

[Petr Obermajer]

Hi
In few days i want to make online logical drive expansion. I can use ACU to do this, but I don't know which tool I can use in Windows
I can use diskpart.exe utility to extend partition on basic disk but if I use it for volume on dynamic disk I will get something like "stripe".
Do you knou any other solution? Something like Partition Magic etc...

I use HP NAS 2000s external storage (MSA cabinet connected to SA6404/256 in Proliant DL server) and Windows 2003 Server (Storage edition)

Thanks
PO

[Ruslan]

Acronis http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/products/diskdirector/

[Petr Obermajer]

Ruslan: Do you use it? Any experience?

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi,

Use ACU
Refer to this guide
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DocumentIndex.jsp?contentType=SupportManual〈=en&cc=us&docIndexId=179111&taskId=101&prodTypeId=18964&prodSeriesId=468780

Prashant S.

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi,

Check the pdf in this post

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=966336

Prashant S.

[Petr Obermajer]

Prashant Sharma: I can use ACU. I am trying to solve problem in Windows...
If I use ACU, I increase capacity of "HDD visible to Windows", but I need to assign this unused space to any logical volume in operating system (and I don not want to use diskpart.exe)

[Igor Karasik · Accepted solution]

Petr, I used Partition magic 8.05 for partition resizing of the basic disks on our Proliant servers.
But if disk is dynamic you cannot use partition magic (I tried it in our lab) - all partition magic commands are "greyed" (disable) when disk is dynamic.
Acronis DiskDirector doesn't support dynamic disks too, but you can see some suggestions in this thread
http://www.wilderssecurity.com/showthread.php?t=105774
Anyway, do full backup before resize operation.

[Petr Obermajer]

Igor: That's thing i want to know. I also tried Partition Magic 8 with same results and wanted to know which tool I can use instead.
Do you have any experience with any of that software (Paragon Partition Manager, VCOM Partition Commander)?

[Petr Obermajer]

It seems that Paragon Partition Manager Server Edition ist the best solutions

read http://www.experts-exchange.com/Operating_Systems/Windows_Server_2003/Q_21633147.html

[Igor Karasik]

Petr, we use only Partition magic, I don't have experience with other tools.
We don't use dynamic disks at all, I have only one old Proliant server with dynamic disks in our lab.
Currently I didn't see any reason to use dynamic disks when you use SmartArray controllers.

[Miika T]

I will agree with Petr, Partition manager works like a charm. If you are using dynamic disks, it will work just like you told. You can do it either with diskpart or disk manager gui. The result will show like you have two e: drives, for example you had 10Gb e: drive and you expanded it 8Gb, disk manager will display it 10Gb E: and 8Gb E: (=total of 18Gb, striping with hardware raid of course).

-Miika

[Petr Obermajer]

It seems that Paragon Partition Manager Server Edition ist the best solution becouse of support of dynamic drives