Raid question

  • Thread starter Thread starter S.Boardman
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S.Boardman

I want to replace my RAID0 to RAID1. I have got a new drive up and running
and it's the one I'm using now - I have disconnected the 2x20Gb RAID drives.
To set up a new array with an existing drive (80GbWD 2 partition) and a
brand new drive:

Do I need fdisk and format the disk first? Or do I just plug it in straight
out of the bag and let it synchonise/build?

Also I am right in thinking if I have the mirror set up, and I then take one
of the disks out and just stick it on an ordinary IDE channel, it would work
as normal? Or does the RAID 'affect' it?

And finally... I have disconnected the power to the 2 RAID drives, although
they are still connected to the mobo. If I reconnect the power to them, they
work fine. Now if I disconnect them from the mobo, and connect the two new
drives for mirroring, will the on-board Fasttrak133Lite Promise RAID
controller keep the details of the old array indefinitely (assuming I don't
accidentally delete it!), bearing in mind the same sockets are going to be
used for the new mirrored drives?
--
Susan
MSI KT3 Ultra v5.7
AMD XP2500+ Barton
ATi Radeon 9800Pro
2x512Mb Corsair PC3200 C2 RAM
Antec Truepower 430W
Pioneer 6x DVD-ROM
Mixture of HDs - see above
 
I want to replace my RAID0 to RAID1. I have got a new drive up and running
and it's the one I'm using now - I have disconnected the 2x20Gb RAID drives.
To set up a new array with an existing drive (80GbWD 2 partition) and a
brand new drive:

Do I need fdisk and format the disk first? Or do I just plug it in straight
out of the bag and let it synchonise/build?
Click to expand...

No, fdisk and format are not needed. Plug it in and boot
to windows and let the raid manager utility (re)build the
mirror... of course you have to have the original designated
as one of the raid 1 drives. One way to do that is the
"Create and Duplicate" option in the raid bios, but that
also rebuilds the 2nd drive from the first... it is faster
to jonly create, then do the duplicate in windows with the
raid manager utility.

Note that I am not looking at a Promise raid bios at the
moment, double-check your raid controller manual to confirm
the connect procedure, before proceeding.
Also I am right in thinking if I have the mirror set up, and I then take one
of the disks out and just stick it on an ordinary IDE channel, it would work
as normal? Or does the RAID 'affect' it?
Click to expand...

Yes, normally it will. If you need that function I suggest
trying it to be sure... nothing worse than finding out your
disaster recovery plan doesn't work... rightabout when it's
needed.

And finally... I have disconnected the power to the 2 RAID drives, although
they are still connected to the mobo. If I reconnect the power to them, they
work fine. Now if I disconnect them from the mobo, and connect the two new
drives for mirroring, will the on-board Fasttrak133Lite Promise RAID
controller keep the details of the old array indefinitely (assuming I don't
accidentally delete it!), bearing in mind the same sockets are going to be
used for the new mirrored drives?
Click to expand...

Yes, the raid-state of the drives is written to their, the
drives' (outer track?), it is not "remembered" by the RAID
controller at all but will be read from each drive when the
drives are reconnected to the controller.
 
kony said:
No, fdisk and format are not needed. Plug it in and boot
to windows and let the raid manager utility (re)build the
mirror... of course you have to have the original designated
as one of the raid 1 drives. One way to do that is the
"Create and Duplicate" option in the raid bios, but that
also rebuilds the 2nd drive from the first... it is faster
to jonly create, then do the duplicate in windows with the
raid manager utility.
Click to expand...
The booklet says the 'create only' option is for two new drives only - or at
least it doesn't say that you can use an existing drive. The 'create and
duplicate' is for use with an existing drive. Maybe I'll just try that.
Note that I am not looking at a Promise raid bios at the
moment, double-check your raid controller manual to confirm
the connect procedure, before proceeding.


Yes, normally it will. If you need that function I suggest
trying it to be sure... nothing worse than finding out your
disaster recovery plan doesn't work... rightabout when it's
needed.
Click to expand...

I'll make another copy of my current drive, and put it to one side. Then
I'll put the original in the RAID with a new drive and set it up. Then I can
take it apart and see if it still works!
Yes, the raid-state of the drives is written to their, the
drives' (outer track?), it is not "remembered" by the RAID
controller at all but will be read from each drive when the
drives are reconnected to the controller.
Click to expand...

Oh I see. I'm confused though. The book says if you delete an array
accidentally, you can restore it only if you have all the details of stripe
size, etc. If the data is stored on the hard drives, why would it be
necessary to re-enter the drive info manually? Wouldn't it just be read from
the drives?
 
The booklet says the 'create only' option is for two new drives only - or at
least it doesn't say that you can use an existing drive. The 'create and
duplicate' is for use with an existing drive. Maybe I'll just try that.
Click to expand...

Yes that sounds like what you want.


Oh I see. I'm confused though. The book says if you delete an array
accidentally, you can restore it only if you have all the details of stripe
size, etc. If the data is stored on the hard drives, why would it be
necessary to re-enter the drive info manually? Wouldn't it just be read from
the drives?
Click to expand...

Deleting it invalidates that info stored on the drive,
writes to the drive. You then re-enter the info so it is
then on the drive. All configuration is based upon what is
read from the drive(s), based upon what was previously
written to the drives. If there was nothing written to the
drives by the RAID controller bios then they are treated as
single-drive spans, until set up differently.
 
kony said:
On Tue, 16 Nov 2004 20:35:51 -0000, "S.Boardman"
snip

Deleting it invalidates that info stored on the drive,
writes to the drive. You then re-enter the info so it is
then on the drive. All configuration is based upon what is
read from the drive(s), based upon what was previously
written to the drives. If there was nothing written to the
drives by the RAID controller bios then they are treated as
single-drive spans, until set up differently.
Click to expand...

I see so I can hang on to the 2 20gb drives indefinitely and they will
always 'remember' their setup. Good. If stick them back in, does it matter
which connector they go into on the mobo?
 
I see so I can hang on to the 2 20gb drives indefinitely and they will
always 'remember' their setup. Good. If stick them back in, does it matter
which connector they go into on the mobo?
Click to expand...

Not in any situation that I'm aware of, in theory it does
not matter. I've moved arrays but don't recall if I've
tried all possible rearrangements on a Promise ATA
controller. Is it meant to be able to do so and would be a
bug/defect if there were any problem.
 
kony said:
Not in any situation that I'm aware of, in theory it does
not matter. I've moved arrays but don't recall if I've
tried all possible rearrangements on a Promise ATA
controller. Is it meant to be able to do so and would be a
bug/defect if there were any problem.
Click to expand...

Can I also ask, does the Windows utility need to be running all the time? I
have set up the mirror and it all works (phew!).
 
Can I also ask, does the Windows utility need to be running all the time? I
have set up the mirror and it all works (phew!).
Click to expand...

No it does not. It would possibly give earlier alert, maybe
even email you (?) if it detected a problem though.... would
be funny though if you forgot about it and just received an
email some day that read "help me I"m dying".
 
kony said:
On Wed, 17 Nov 2004 18:56:01 -0000, "S.Boardman"
snip!

No it does not. It would possibly give earlier alert, maybe
even email you (?) if it detected a problem though.... would
be funny though if you forgot about it and just received an
email some day that read "help me I"m dying".
Click to expand...

LOL - that's cheered me up! I have the retail version of HL2 and it has
stopped before accessing steam, with a message about oleacc.dll being
missing. Don't suppose you can fix *that*, can you?
 
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