Replacing HDDs in current RAID1 / Keeping Same RAID Controller

[bloodlet]

I want to replace the hard drives that are currently on a RAID1 dell server which runs Dell Cerc ATA100 4ch RAID controller. My plan is to image the current disk, remove current drives attached to raid controller, install larger hard drives that are also ATA100, setup a RAID5 and do a restore of the image. Possible? I believe so...

Question is, if I run into an issue and have to GO BACK to the initial raid setup with the old drives, how do I do that, or can I do that? IF I insert the old disks in, would it be recognized as Raid1 and no data would be lost?

Any input is greatly appreciated ...

 

[bloodlet]

anyone? please?

Am I better off adding a second RAID controller to the server? and setup a separate RAID1 on it and keep the current raid with the OS untouched?

 

[nitrobass24]

I have done that before and it has worked...I have not however run into problems and can not comment on that.

 

[DaveEhm]

As long as you have a good image, whatever issue you have moving forward is a different matter. I've done this many times and haven't ran into an issue. You image the raid to a single drive, reconfigure raid with new drives etc, image back to the raid, remove single drive.
It would be a different story if you were replacing the card and you were attempting to boot from the raid I suppose.

 

[nitrobass24]

It would be a different story if you were replacing the card and you were attempting to boot from the raid I suppose.

How? the underlying RAID is transparent to the image or even any OS for that matter if your using a hardware raid controller.

 

[DaveEhm]

How? the underlying RAID is transparent to the image or even any OS for that matter if your using a hardware raid controller.

I suspected booting an existing OS with a new controller without the new driver present would cause problems. Not that he was going to do that.