Windows 2003 Server hard disk limitation

[Leonard Thng]

Hi. I've got a set of configurations for Windows 2003 Server. Was wondering if such configs can be supported.

Software RAID:
1) C:\OS (2 x 500GB HDD in RAID 1)
2) D:\Data (46 x 500GB HDD in RAID 0+1)

Tried looking for the supporting info at microsoft website but no luck. Still waiting for microsoft to get back to me whether such configs can work.

Advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Leonard

[Igor Karasik · Accepted solution]

Leonard,
Microsoft support 46*500 Gb size since sp1 for windows 2003, but you need to check if hardware provider (HP?) support it. (I think (not sure) HP storage still have 2 Tb limit for logical drive)
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/device/storage/LUN_SP1.mspx

[Leonard Thng]

Hi.. But in this case i will be using windows software raid. From what i've read in Microsoft, RAID 5 & RAID 0 is limited to 32 physical hdds, so in other words, at the disk management, i'll be able to see all 48 hdds installed and configure 2 hdds to RAID 1 and 46 hdds to RAID 0+1?? Will it show all 48 hdds?


Leonard

[Igor Karasik]

>>But in this case i will be using windows software raid

First:
software RAID = bad stability, bad performance, bad ...
software RAID with 46 drives - even greater bad.

Second: I never used windows software RAID, but AFAIK windows 2003 support only RAID0, RAID1 and RAID5 (no RAID0+1)
http://technet2.microsoft.com/WindowsServer/en/library/cb871b6c-8ce7-4eb7-9aba-52b36e31d2a11033.mspx?mfr=true

[Leonard Thng]

oh gosh.. guess i missed out that out!! thanks alot!! really appreciate your help!!

[Leonard Thng]

hi.. sorry.. last few qns... RAID 0 & RAID 5 supports up to 32 disks in the software RAID in Win2K3 Server... does that mean the OS can only see up to 32 hard disks at the disk management?

coz if i wish configure a RAID 1 for 2 hard disks & the rest of the hard disks as RAID 0.. does it mean i can only perform RAID 0 for 30 hard disks after performing RAID 1 on the 1st 2 hard disks?

[Leonard Thng]

Thanks!