HP StoreEasy 1650

[ManishChawda]

Hi,

We had a requirement to add new HDD to our existing RAID 5. HP partner had done the required installation and configuration. I have two queries 

- Since in Server Manager I am not able to see the Disks / Storage Pool - Only volumes are seen. As per partner since our Storage had hardware RAID thats the reason Disks are not shown, if software based RAID is configured then Disks are seen, is it true 

- Since the 4TB HDD was add to RAID 5 and took 3-4 days, I came across KB mentioning that instead of RAID 5, RAID6 / 10 is worth. is it true ? Can I migrate from RAID5 to RAID6 / 10 on production file server ?

[neutral]

Hello @ManishChawda.,

Good day to you!

I have mentioned it in two separate points for your queries. Hope it will help you.

1. Could you check in with the Smart Storage Administrator? Refer to this link for more info - https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c03909334 

2.  RAID 6 arrays give you n-2 drives available for data (as opposed to n-1 for RAID 5). If you have spare bays available, you can add another hard drive, and with that migrate to a RAID 6 array. When you convert from RAID 5 to RAID 6 you are assigning another hard disk as parity so you are losing that same space from the total effective space of the RAID 5 group. Do you have the equivalent of 1 hard disk unallocated in the existing RAID 5 group? If so you may be able to do it.

    - Make sure you have a backup of the data before you proceed

    - Depending on the size of the array this process can take a while. Personally, I would recreate the array and restore the data from the backup.

Here is an example with the procedure for your ref:

-  Expand RAID 5 array with 4th drive: HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide - Expand array / HPE Smart Storage Administrator User Guide - Configuration tasks (page 22) 

-  Extend existing logical drive: HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide -  HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide - Extend logical drive / HPE Smart Storage Administrator User Guide - Configuration tasks (page 23)  

-  Migrate RAID 5 to RAID 10:  HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide - Migrate RAID level / HPE Smart Storage Administrator User Guide - Configuration tasks (page 23)  

Optional procedure:

-  Configure transformation priority:  HPE Smart Array SR Gen10 User Guide - Transformation priority / HPE Smart Storage Administrator User Guide - Changing the Expand Priority setting (page 78) 

Thanks and Regards,

Ashik N S

[ManishChawda]

Thanks for the reply!

I am aware with Smart Storage Admin - It shows everything perfect but I wanted to know if the OEM says is true that in Server Manager it will not show disk / pools .... if it is being configured using hardware RAID. 

I just want to check it if is true, else SSA is perfectly showing everything !

Rest I am still checking.

[neutral]

Hello @ManishChawda,

Since both Hardware and Software RAID configurations are visible in the server manager, thus, you should be able to see Disks/ Storage Pools when configured with either of the RAID configurations.

Thanks & Regards,

Ashik N S

[ManishChawda]

Thanks for reply!

Now what can I do because if I am asking HP partner he explains his way as I mentioned earlier, but still I am not able to see Disks / Storage Pool in Server Manager. 

Is there any way to resolve it .?

Manish

[neutral]

Hello @ManishChawda,

In that case, kindly refer to SSA as it would be more convenient.

Thanks & Regards,

Ashik N S