Extend system partition in RAID0+1 Win2k3

[LeMat]

Hello
I have the following problem. I have DL server with 2 disks running in Mirror (RAID0+1) and have 2 partitions, my C partition is too small so I decided to enlarge it. But i'm afraid there's no solution to do this without loosing my system. Is there any program that allows me to do this without loosing data (extend system partition in RAID)?

Regards

[Arch_Muthiah · Accepted solution]

LeMat,

Download Boot-It NG from www.bootitng.com -- make a bootable floppy or CD -- boot -- "cancel" the install -- OK to go to maintenance mode -- select Partition Work -- and RESIZE your partitions as per your rek.


Archunan

[Arch_Muthiah]

LeMat,

When you boot with Boot-It, the Partition Work screen will show your current partitioning information. You didn't give full details of your current structure, but I'll assume you have a 4GB partition and a larger 2nd partition -- say, for example, that the 2nd partition is 36GB and uses all of the rest of the disk.

What you would have to do is this:

(1) Resize the 2nd partition to free up enough space for your desired expansion. So in this example you would select the 2nd partition and resize it to the level you want to free mem for Ist Partition.

(2) "Slide" the 2nd partition to the end of the disk -- this will put the free space next to your first partition.

(3) Now Resize your 1st partition.


Archunan

[Arch_Muthiah]

LeMat,

If you need to resize a partition that's not on the first or second RAID set on the first RAID controller in the system, you're better off using a BartPE CD (http://www.nu2.nu/pebuilder) with the driver for the RAID controller installed and a copy of Paragon Partition Manager (http://www.paragon-gmbh.com) installed to manipulate the partitions. This is the method that I now mostly use.

Archunan

[LeMat]

Thanks for Your reply
I hope it will work cause it's critical for me.
I have about 7G on C drive and about 61G of D. There are 2 disks in RAID0+1 running (mirror)

Thank You for your help. I'll check it as soon as possible

Regards

[LeMat]

But are You sure that all data won't be lost?

[LeMat]

None of known free programs worked, PQMagic failed also, so i'm suprised that this free software will work so simply. Have You done this somewhere? Without loosing data?

[Jon Finley]

A safer way would be to:

1. Break the mirror
2. Extend/rework the second side.
3. Use Ghost to copy the system data partition over to the new larger array (or the entire disk if it makes sense to).
4. Create a boot disk, and edit the boot.ini to boot to the second array (the new extended array)
5. Extend/rework the first side.
6. Repeat step 3 (ghost the data back over).
7. Boot normal.
8. Redo the mirror.

Jon

[Arch_Muthiah]

MeMat,

There is a another tool called Partition Manager (server edition)

http://www.partition-manager.com/n_pm_main.htm

Partition Manager from Paragon provides easy and safe partitioning functions to even non-professional users.

With Partition Manager you can reclaim wasted disk space, organize your data, add new operating systems, speed up file system performance.

In the past, partition modification was risky and time-consuming task. Users had to backup all files, create new partitions, format them, may be reinstall operating system, and restore data. With Partition Manager you just select what partition modification should be done. All will be done automatically without data loss.


Also you may be known about windows's diskpart utility, nowdays comes with 2000 and 2003 too. You can try, take a backup before doing anything, because the docs for its old version says, it won't work with any strip and mirrored disk.

Disk partition
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;325590&Product=win2000


Archunan

[Alan_152]

LeMat

If your work is critical, do a cold, level 0 backup 1st. Then, in the worst-case, you could rebuild the entire box, set up the partitions the way you want them using approved methods, and then restore.

Another direction you could go, since you are using win2k03, is to mount additional drives as folders on C:\ (or wherever).

Finally, I'd bet that one place you could save tons of space on your root drive is to move your swap file to another drive. Keep a 2Meg swap file on the root drive for logging/small dump purposes, but move the majority of the swap to another, faster drive. Done right, you may even pick up a performance boost on your system.