Raid 5 Array Wont Expand Anymroe

[Chaotic Master]

I started out with 4 200GB and started adding one hard drive at a time to my raid array. I have the BC4852 Raid 5 card. When i added the 8th 200GB and tried to expand it refuse to expand anymore. Instead, it gives me the option to create another array with space. Do i need to go to dynamic disk to have a array larger tha 1TB.

 

[ambit]

I've got basic 1.8Tb arrays off of 3Ware cards.

 

[doormat]

Is it trying to use the last drive as a hot spare or something?

The limit for NTFS is 2TB with a "normal" file structure.

 

[unhappy_mage]

So have you expanded onto 7 disks and it won't go to 8 or started at 4 disks and it won't jump to 8? I'm not sure what your setup is or where you're trying to get, please clarify.

 

[Korgun]

Hey i'm planning on doing the same thing with the same drives

What controller do you have?

 

[Chaotic Master]

Started with 4 and added one at a time. Worked each time until i tried to add the 8th drive.

Using a Broadcom BC4852.

 

[unhappy_mage]

Then how come the array shows up as 1tb? That sounds right for 6 disks, not 7...

Maybe you can disable the "Distributed Spare" option and add the extra disk. This controller only holds 8 disks, right? How come there are 9 listed under source and destination view (0-7 and spare)?

My guess is it's leaving one drive as a spare intentionally. Turn that option off and see how it goes.

 

[Chaotic Master]

The distibuted drive is not counted as a phsilcal drive, that is why it looks likt 9 drives in source. The max capacity of 1197886MB is what im suppose to get after i commit but instead it stays at 998237MB. I'll just create a second raid 5 array to use the extra space.