Replace disks in a RAID 1

[Jimmy Vance]

It has been some time since I've worked with a B140i controller, but from what I recall, you cannot expand an array on this controller like you can with a "P" series controller.

[Torsten.]

Something experimental:

Take out the 8 disks.

Move the 2 SSD to the 8-slot bay.

Insert the new SDDs too there.

Create a new RAID1 on them.

Clone the old pair to the new pair.

Shutdown, remove the disks.

Insert the 8 disks again.

Insert the new SSD pair.

Boot up.

IMHO this should work, but you need some downtime.

[Robertomcat]

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@Jimmy Vance wrote:

It has been some time since I've worked with a B140i controller, but from what I recall, you cannot expand an array on this controller like you can with a "P" series controller.

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What a big oversize! I did not remember that the server, with the factory options, came with a cable of four sata connectors connected to the motherboard, and that I am currently using two to make the RAID 1 operating system.

It has occurred to me to incorporate the two new disks to the two connectors that are empty, and create a RAID1 and clone the operating system to these two new ones. Then I can check if it works correctly by changing the boot disks from the SSA. Once you see that everything works as it should, you could already delete the two old discs.

I had not thought of that option, I did not remember that cable with the four sata connectors.

Thank you for the recommendations!

[Robertomcat]

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@Torsten. wrote:

Something experimental:

Take out the 8 disks.

Move the 2 SSD to the 8-slot bay.

Insert the new SDDs too there.

Create a new RAID1 on them.

Clone the old pair to the new pair.

Shutdown, remove the disks.

Insert the 8 disks again.

Insert the new SSD pair.

Boot up.

IMHO this should work, but you need some downtime.

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That is not absolutely viable. Thank you for the recommendations!

[Jimmy Vance]

What it boils down to at this point is how long would it take you to re-install the OS and applications on a new array versus messing around with all the cloning / expansion options.

[Robertomcat]

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@Jimmy Vance wrote:

What it boils down to at this point is how long would it take you to re-install the OS and applications on a new array versus messing around with all the cloning / expansion options.

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I do not intend to install it all over again, but make a copy of the old RAID, install it in the new one, and then delete the old RAID.

So I can see the full capacity of the new disks, since the b140i can not do the expansion. I do not know if I explained well.