Replace SATA drives with SAS via hot swap?

[Joe Duehmig]

My client has a DL380 G5 with a Smart Array P400 controller.  Currently I have three RAID 1+0 arrays configured, all using SATA drives.  This is a highly used server and we're starting to see drive failures.  I'm recommending going to SAS drives for better performance and lifespan.  The question now is how to change the drives.  Can I simply replace one drive in the mirror, allow the rebuild to take place, then replace the second drive?  This would be the easiest approach.  If not, any recommendations on how to replace the drives without data loss?  I can schedule some downtime if necessary.

Thanks,

Joe

[Johan Guldmyr]

Hi, no you cannot mix SAS and SATA drives in the same array.

If you have two free drive slots that you can populate with two new SAS drives, create a new RAID1 and then copy the contents over from one sata array. Replace drives in one sata array with sas drives, repeat.

Copying everything over may need more work depending on what you're using the disks for.

[Joe Duehmig]

Thanks for the response.  I was afraid that was the answer.  More work for the weary...

Joe