Replace older drives on a RAID5.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wilson
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Wilson

We have an email server running a RAID5 (Hot Swap) storage setup with
an Adaptec 2100s SCSI controller. Currently we have 4 older IBM 18GB
80pin drives installed. 1 drive is setup as the "Hot Spare". One of
the drives just recently malfunctioned, and we would like to replace
this drive with a newer drive. We would also like to slowly replace
the other 3 older IBM drives with newer drives.

Is this possible, or do we have to locate the exact same drive to
replace the malfunctioned drive?

If it is possible, what is your recommendation on a drive to use.
 
We have an email server running a RAID5 (Hot Swap) storage setup with
an Adaptec 2100s SCSI controller. Currently we have 4 older IBM 18GB
80pin drives installed. 1 drive is setup as the "Hot Spare". One of
the drives just recently malfunctioned, and we would like to replace
this drive with a newer drive. We would also like to slowly replace
the other 3 older IBM drives with newer drives.

Is this possible, or do we have to locate the exact same drive to
replace the malfunctioned drive?

If it is possible, what is your recommendation on a drive to use.
Click to expand...

Almost always, you can replace a failed drive with any
compatible drive that is at least as big as the failed
drive. Check the manual of the Adaptec controller card
to be sure.
 
Previously Wilson said:
We have an email server running a RAID5 (Hot Swap) storage setup with
an Adaptec 2100s SCSI controller. Currently we have 4 older IBM 18GB
80pin drives installed. 1 drive is setup as the "Hot Spare". One of
the drives just recently malfunctioned, and we would like to replace
this drive with a newer drive. We would also like to slowly replace
the other 3 older IBM drives with newer drives.
Click to expand...
Is this possible, or do we have to locate the exact same drive to
replace the malfunctioned drive?
Click to expand...

Usually the replacement has to be the same size or lager. Be careful
that the size must match exactly (number of secors) or be larger.

In addition most SCSI-variants are compatible with each other with
the use ow an adapter.
If it is possible, what is your recommendation on a drive to use.
Click to expand...

If it is not possible, replace the whole set-up. In that case you have
been riped up. Make sure to get a spare controller as well, since
the controller cannot usually be replaced with anything but the same
model.

On the drive model, you have to take into account, that when replacing
a disk in an existing RAID-5 array, you cannot use any extra capacity.

My advice would be to replace the whole set-up with 2 36GB HDDs
in a RAID-1 configuration or three of them if you still want
a hot spare.

Arno
 
I prefer bitter.
Click to expand...

We agree on that.


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Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in one pretty and well-preserved piece.
One should rather skid in broadside, thoroughly used up,
totally worn out, loudly proclaiming "WOW! WHAT A RIDE!"
 
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