Migrating Raid5 to a new controller....

[HardD99]

Hey guys i currently have a Raid 5 setup with my RocketRaid 2300 Sata card. i have 4 - 500GB Seagate drives hooked up and i just got done filling it up. i dont want to create a whole new array, i would like to purchase a new Rocketraid 8 port card and move my current array over to it so i can then purchase another 500 GB drive to add to this array. Can anyone enlighten me on how i would go about doing this? do i just save the array to a floppy and then install new card and restore it or something? this is alot of data that i dont really want to lose so i want to completely understand everything before i even go about it. Also if this is the way its done does it matter what sata ports i connect the drives to? Any other advice?

 

[drizzt81]

Can anyone enlighten me on how i would go about doing this?

1. call or e-mail highpoint support
2. ask them if it is possible to move an array between controllers
3. regardless of the answer, backup your data
4. move the array
5. if it breaks, restore from backup

 

[piako]

I remember talking to highpoint and I think you can just unplug the array and then plug it into the new controller. Make sure you double check. They will e-mail you back pretty quickly.

 

[general]

Be sure to get a card that supports online capacity expansion. Otherwise, you won't be adding that drive to the existing array.

 

[swatbat]

1. call or e-mail highpoint support
2. ask them if it is possible to move an array between controllers
3. regardless of the answer, backup your data
4. move the array
5. if it breaks, restore from backup

What he said.

 

[HardD99]

kewl thx for the replies guys, ill email them and post back for future reference

 

[HardD99]

Hello,

The RR2320 will recognize the array.
You can expand it using the OCE/ORLM option, but make sure the OS you are running provides a partition expansion option (otherwise, the OS may not recognize the additional space).

Regards,

HighPoint Technologies, Inc.

Hey guys, this is the response i just got back, and you guys were right, they are quick. So it sounds to me like i can just uninstall the 2300 i have, install the new 2320 and it will plug and play? that seems a little to simple to me... anyone else actually tried this?

 

[swatbat]

Hey guys, this is the response i just got back, and you guys were right, they are quick. So it sounds to me like i can just uninstall the 2300 i have, install the new 2320 and it will plug and play? that seems a little to simple to me... anyone else actually tried this?

First off is this your boot drive?

If so you need to install the card first in a second slot and boot into windows and let it get the drivers for it. You can then move the array over.

If not then yea install the new card and load the drivers in windows.