Proliant ML350 G5 - Adding more than 8 drives

[AainR]

I'm wondering if it's possible to add 2 additional drives to this server via the front drive bays.

We're planning on upgrading from SBS 2003 to SBS 2011, and I would like to add more disk space.  Currently, there are 8 drives in the bay, which is maxed out.  They are 72 GB, SAS, 2.5", 15K rpm.

2 @ RAID 1 for C:  (70 GB)

5 @ RAID 5 for D: & E: (140 GB each)

1 @ Hot Spare

All are connected to a SmartArray P400.

I'm thinking/hoping that if I could install 2 x 144 GB drives in front drive bays, I could attach them to the unused, onboard SmartArray E200i.  Then, I could use the 7 drives for the RAID 5, and have the following configuration:

2 @ RAID 1 for C: (140 GB) on SmartArray E200i

7 @ RAID 5 for D: & E: (210 GB each) on SmartArray P400

1 @ Hot Spare

Any thoughts or feedback?   Thanks.

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

Even I am hoping the same.

1 - 6 = 6 x 3.5" (LFF) Hot-Plug SAS/SATA hard drive bays.
1 - 8 = 8 x SFF Hot-Plug SAS/SATA hard drive bays.
A,B,C,D is available for half height media bays for Tape/Zip drives.
E is for CD-ROM/DVD Drive.

I guess, if you get some type of drive backplane/drive cage to install in the upper bays A-D then you could install additional hard drives.

Good Luck!

[AainR]

I was hoping that someone had already gone through this.  I'll post what I find out.

Thanks for commenting.

[AainR · Accepted solution]

After brainstorming with a hardware vendor, here's the most likely solution.

2 x 160 GB Intel SSD, 2.5" SFF

1 x Vantec NexStar Dual 2.5" SATA Hard Drive Rack

The 2 SSD's will fit in the hard drive rack, which, in turn, fits into one 5.25" drive bay.

The hard drive rack will connect to the unused, onboard SmartArray E200i.

Total cost: $650

That now frees up all 8 existing drives to be:

7 @ RAID 5 for D: & E:  (210 GB each)

I'm very happy with this solution!  For only $650, we get SSD technology and increase our storage by 50%!