i have a 2003 server system that i'd like to make into a network file server. i'm looking at picking up 4 or 5 300gb drives to use in a raid5 array. i was going to do it by having server2003 convert all the disks into dynamic disks and then use the built in raid 5 function. i realize that this will eat up cpu calculating parity but the server has no other cpu intensive tasks and, although production, is only running my home network (so far from mission critical).
my question is, if the os drive or the os itself manages to bite the dust and i have to reinstall the os, what happens to my array? is it recoverable? i know this data is usually stored on controller cards, but i'm trying to do this project as inexpensively as possible so i'm just using an ata133 card to connect multiple drives (so no controller card). that said, if my array is gone in the event of software or hardware failure, i'm going to have to rethink my situation. if anyone knows the details of windows volume raid, please give me some advice.
my question is, if the os drive or the os itself manages to bite the dust and i have to reinstall the os, what happens to my array? is it recoverable? i know this data is usually stored on controller cards, but i'm trying to do this project as inexpensively as possible so i'm just using an ata133 card to connect multiple drives (so no controller card). that said, if my array is gone in the event of software or hardware failure, i'm going to have to rethink my situation. if anyone knows the details of windows volume raid, please give me some advice.