jcolby
12-01-2008, 04:28 PM
I own two servers running Windows 2003 / SQL Server 2005. In each I used an Areca 1220. they were "identical", using (8) 320g hard drives raid 6. Then I had to replace the motherboard in one, and ended up replacing the 320s with (4) 500g drives raid 5.
Last week I bought a 1261 (16 SATAII ports) which came in today. I decided to "just try it" and see if I could get the new 1261ML-1 controller to recognize the old array from the 1220. The computer boots off the array (a 200g partition) so I put the 1261ML in the machine and brought it up. Searched for new hardware, fed it the disk and it found the new controller.
I then powered down, pulled the SATAII connectors from the 1220 and plugged in the first four port cable from the 1261ML. Powered it up and it booted right into Windows!!! I see both volumes under Windows.
ARCHTTP shows two controllers. I logged in to the new controller using the default password, and it shows me 16 channels, RAID SET #00 being a RAID 5 array and the rest unused. I bought (6) 640g drives last week to go with the new controller so I will put that on and start it building a new raid 5 array. Eventually I will end up with (7) 640G drives in Raid 6 with an 8th for hot spare, and then will flesh out the 4 drive array with (7) 500g drives raid 6 with a hot spare.
I have to tell you I did NOT expect this to work easily if at all!
In fact it was "like butter". WOW!
Last week I bought a 1261 (16 SATAII ports) which came in today. I decided to "just try it" and see if I could get the new 1261ML-1 controller to recognize the old array from the 1220. The computer boots off the array (a 200g partition) so I put the 1261ML in the machine and brought it up. Searched for new hardware, fed it the disk and it found the new controller.
I then powered down, pulled the SATAII connectors from the 1220 and plugged in the first four port cable from the 1261ML. Powered it up and it booted right into Windows!!! I see both volumes under Windows.
ARCHTTP shows two controllers. I logged in to the new controller using the default password, and it shows me 16 channels, RAID SET #00 being a RAID 5 array and the rest unused. I bought (6) 640g drives last week to go with the new controller so I will put that on and start it building a new raid 5 array. Eventually I will end up with (7) 640G drives in Raid 6 with an 8th for hot spare, and then will flesh out the 4 drive array with (7) 500g drives raid 6 with a hot spare.
I have to tell you I did NOT expect this to work easily if at all!
In fact it was "like butter". WOW!