Upgrading RAID 5 Disks to larger ones

[neilbarkerwhu]

Hi All,

I have a DL380 G5 with a RAID 5 array contacining 4 x 146GB drives.

I need to increase this to 4 x 300GB drives.  The array contains exchange databases and is getting full.

What is the best way to do this?

Thanks,

Neil

[raanangol]

hi Neil

you mean to increase this to 4  x 300GB drives ?

I am an HP employee

[neilbarkerwhu]

Hi,

Yes I did mean 4 and have edited the original post!

Thanks,

Neil

[Blackie21]

Hi neilbarkerwhu,

please confirm us if you want to replace current 146 GB HDDs with 2x 300 GB or if you want to just add another logical drive (2x 300 GB) to get additional storage.

Thank you!

BR

Blackie21

- I am HP employee

[neilbarkerwhu]

I want to replace the 4 x 146GB drives with 4 x 300GB drives

So I double the space.

[Stancho]

Hi Neil,

could you be more specific please. Are these hard drives being attached to the onboard controller (E200i/P400i), does this controller have got cache module/battery, do you want to perform this migration in online mode?

BR,

Stancho

[neilbarkerwhu]

Internal Controller Controller Status OK Controller Smart Array P400 Slot 1 Controller Serial Number P61620F9VVE1UN Bus Interface PCI Hardware Revision D Firmware Version 7.18 RAID 6 (ADG) Status Disabled Rebuild Priority Medium Transformation Priority Medium Surface Scan Analysis Priority Idle Surface Scan Delay 15 sec Number of Ports 2 (Internal only) Number of Arrays 3 Number of Logical Drives 3 Number of Physical Drives 8  Array Accelerator Array Accelerator Present Yes Cache Status OK Array Accelerator (Cache) Ratio 100% Read / 0% Write Total Cache Size 256 MB Battery/Capacitor Pack Count 0  Arrays  SAS Array A - 1 Logical Drive(s)  SAS Array B - 1 Logical Drive(s)  SAS Array C - 1 Logical Drive(s)  Logical Drive(s) / Local OS Access Name  Logical Drive 1 (33.9 GB, RAID 1) \\.\PhysicalDrive0  Logical Drive 2 (136.7 GB, RAID 1) \\.\PhysicalDrive1  Logical Drive 3 (410.1 GB, RAID 5) \\.\PhysicalDrive2  Assigned Drives  146 GB 2-Port SAS Drive at Port 1I : Box 1 : Bay 5  146 GB 2-Port SAS Drive at Port 1I : Box 1 : Bay 6  146 GB 2-Port SAS Drive at Port 1I : Box 1 : Bay 7  146 GB 2-Port SAS Drive at Port 1I : Box 1 : Bay 8  146 GB 1-Port SAS Drive at Port 2I : Box 1 : Bay 1  146 GB 1-Port SAS Drive at Port 2I : Box 1 : Bay 2  36 GB 1-Port SAS Drive at Port 2I : Box 1 : Bay 3  36 GB 1-Port SAS Drive at Port 2I : Box 1 : Bay 4

Logical drive 3 is the one I want to upgrade with the 4 x 300GB disks.  You can see at the moment it contains 4 x 146GB drives.

[Blackie21]

Hi neilbarkerwhu,

If you want to replace current 146 GB HDDs with 4x 300 GB, there are few ways how to do this...

First of all you need to backup all your data. The best option is to create image of your logical drive using some of backup software.

Than you should verify if backup image is functional and can be used.

After that you can choose if you just delete logical drive, replace 146 GB and recreate new one from 300 GB. Or you can replace HDDs one by one (wait until rebuild will be completed) and than use option extend logical drive (this option is only availlable for some Smart Array controllers with cache module and battery / capacitor)

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c03510253

If you use first option (delete logical drive) the last step will be restore your data. 

BR

Blackie21

- I am HP employee

[raanangol]

hi Neil

its very simple

first you need to backup your data (just in case)

you can do it just if you have cache + battery installed

1 replace hddd 146gb > 300gb  ONE BY ONE ! ( wait untill each rebuild will finish)

2 from ADU choose extand / extant option  (be notice - its take time) and choose the new array size

3 change the partision size (3rd party utility )

I am an HP employee

[neilbarkerwhu]

Hi,

I have now installed the 4 x 300GB drives and the array has rebuilt.  

In the ACU I can see one of my arrays showing unused space.  How to I expand the array?  You mentioned ADU but I do not have the options you sent on the doc, it only does a diagnostic report!

Help!!!

Thanks,

Neil

[Jimmy Vance]

In ACU there should be an option to expand the array