RAID array initialization question?

J

jyi786

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Let's say I have 6x73GB hard drives in a RAID 5 array. What happens if I take those drives out, install new drives that are 6x146GB, initialize those, and then want to put the old ones back? Do I have to go through initialization process again in the RAID controller's BIOS, or will it be just a straight "hot" swap?
 
depends on the controller, you'll likely have to call support or refer to your documentation.
 
most the time any raid info is stored on the drive itself so you should be able to just swap the drives without having to reinitialize them if the arrays are new and you don't have any data on them yet, you could just try it :p
 
axan said:
most the time any raid info is stored on the drive itself so you should be able to just swap the drives without having to reinitialize them if the arrays are new and you don't have any data on them yet, you could just try it :p
Click to expand...

Agreed, I've done this before. As long as its true RAID, not windows or software RAID, you shouldnt have any problem doing this.
 
xenotype said:
Agreed, I've done this before. As long as its true RAID, not windows or software RAID, you shouldnt have any problem doing this.
Click to expand...

I spoke to Dell directly and the rep that I talked to seemed to basically agree with you guys here that you just simply swap in and out the drives, and the system will pick it up right away.

Thanks for all the input.
 
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