RAID 1 to basic

  • Thread starter Thread starter Scott
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Scott

Hi,

I've got 2x250GB HD's configured in RAID 1. I'm getting low on disk space,
and am considering converting to 2 x basic disks. Is it possible to "break
the mirror" without backing up the data, or is this a RBI (Really Bad Idea)?
Someone told me breaking the mirror was pretty simple, where you just break
it, reboot, and you now have a C: and D: drive that are duplicates of each
other. Am wanting to confirm this.

Thanks,
Scott
 
Scott said:
Hi,

I've got 2x250GB HD's configured in RAID 1. I'm getting low on disk space,
and am considering converting to 2 x basic disks. Is it possible to "break
the mirror" without backing up the data,
Click to expand...

This is exactly what RAID 1 is all about. Remove one drive, set the
other to boot first, and there you go. (You should thereafter have the
option in the controller's settings to break the RAID 1 array, allowing
you to reinstall the other drive and clean it up.)

Odie
 
Odie said:
This is exactly what RAID 1 is all about. Remove one drive, set the
other to boot first, and there you go. (You should thereafter have the
option in the controller's settings to break the RAID 1 array, allowing
you to reinstall the other drive and clean it up.)

Odie
--

RetroData
Data Recovery Experts
www.retrodata.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thanks. So, a couple more questions:

1. If I just delete the array and reboot, do I then see a C: and D: drive
with duplicate content, i.e. two basic drives?
2. If I delete the array, then create two arrays, one with the first drive
and one with the second, do I then see a C: and D: drive?

Looking at the online Array Management Utility, I can't see a way to delete
one drive from the array configuration. The menu choice is grayed out. I
haven't tried it from the boot utility.

I've attached a screen shot to this post, hope it attaches OK.

Much appreciated,
Scott
 
1. If I just delete the array and reboot, do I then see a C: and D: drive
with duplicate content, i.e. two basic drives?
2. If I delete the array, then create two arrays, one with the first drive
and one with the second, do I then see a C: and D: drive?

Looking at the online Array Management Utility, I can't see a way to delete
one drive from the array configuration. The menu choice is grayed out. I
haven't tried it from the boot utility.

I've attached a screen shot to this post, hope it attaches OK.

Much appreciated,
Scott
Click to expand...

I can't remember the exact why fors but in the past (going back to my
days of Novell) I always removed a drive before deleting the array from
the controller's BIOS.

I suspect this is not necessary, but for all the trouble, I felt it to
be worthwhile having one drive outside the machine.

You could probably delete the array with both drives still attached, but
not knowing your card and probably not having had recent experience with
it, I can only recommend removing a drive first.

I didn't get a screen shot - my newsreader (netscape) is disabled as far
as possible.

Also, do NOT carry our your point 2 above.

Odie
 
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