Using HP Disk Arrays with Windows Server 2003 (Basic or Dynamic)

[barry Noble]

Hello

I'm just about to configure a server with Windows Server 2003. Using Insight manager I intend to configure the disks with a mirrored and a RAID 5 volumes. When I then install Windows 2003, should I go for Dynamic disks or basic. What in terms in of speed, efficiency & recovery etc, are the benefits of one over the other.

I'm not intending to use the Dynamic disk features, why would I, I've done it at a hardware level. Any comments helpful. Hidden in Microsoft Knowledge article 329707 for win2000, it suggests no need to convert to Dynamic, against which the promo side of Microsoft says "Join the wonderful world of Dynamic disks today, why delay!" catchy hah.

Regards
BarryN

[Roger Faucher]

Barry:

I'm sorry I don't know the answer to your question. I just wanted to suggest (if you haven't already) that you go to the HP support website and download/install the latest BIOS, support packs, software, and drivers before you upgrade.
If you post your server model, I'll give you the web page, if you're unfamiliar with the locations.

Roger

[Ron Freswick]

Barry,
Because you have hardware based raid you would not want to set dynamic disks. Setting your disks to dynamic would be required if you were going to set 2003 to do your raid. Much better off in basic.

[WebWalker]

The answer, as is frequently the case, is :"It depends !"

Dynamic disks that store data are easily transferred between servers, allowing you to
move a disk from a failed server to a functioning server with little downtime, and it supports illimited number of volumes, but it don't support dual boot.
I've not tested yet the speed difference.