Removing a drive from a software RAID 5 array. Win2K3 server

[Guest Calab]

I have a Windows 2003 Server that currently has five 500gig drives in a RAID

5 array. The array is healthy.

 

Unfortunately, we need temporarily need a 500gig drive for an issue

unrelated to this machine.

 

Other than losing the protection of RAID 5, would there be any issues if we

shut down the server, removed one drive, and brought the server back online?

If we format the removed drive and use it elsewhere can we still be able to

reinstall it into the server and let the array rebuild itself?

 

From what I understand, this should all be fine, as long as we don't have

another drive fail in the array while a drive is removed. I also know

performance will suffer while the array is missing a drive.

 

Does this all sound right?

[Guest Meinolf Weber]

Re: Removing a drive from a software RAID 5 array. Win2K3 server

 

Hello Calab,

 

As you said, performance will go down. You can reconnect it after you are

ready and it should rebuilt without problem, will be the same as you replace

a broken disc.

I would really think about buying another same drive, so you also have one

spare if one breaks.

 

Best regards

 

Meinolf Weber

Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers

no rights.

** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> I have a Windows 2003 Server that currently has five 500gig drives in

> a RAID 5 array. The array is healthy.

>

> Unfortunately, we need temporarily need a 500gig drive for an issue

> unrelated to this machine.

>

> Other than losing the protection of RAID 5, would there be any issues

> if we shut down the server, removed one drive, and brought the server

> back online? If we format the removed drive and use it elsewhere can

> we still be able to reinstall it into the server and let the array

> rebuild itself?

>

> From what I understand, this should all be fine, as long as we don't

> have another drive fail in the array while a drive is removed. I also

> know performance will suffer while the array is missing a drive.

>

> Does this all sound right?

>

[Guest Betzold, Adam]

Re: Removing a drive from a software RAID 5 array. Win2K3 server

 

This is a really bad idea. I would highly recommend buying the 500 gig

drive. After you're done you can put it in your array as a hot spare so

it wouldn't be that much of a waste of money.

 

Meinolf Weber wrote:

> Hello Calab,

>

> As you said, performance will go down. You can reconnect it after you

> are ready and it should rebuilt without problem, will be the same as you

> replace a broken disc.

> I would really think about buying another same drive, so you also have

> one spare if one breaks.

>

> Best regards

>

> Meinolf Weber

> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and

> confers no rights.

> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

>

>> I have a Windows 2003 Server that currently has five 500gig drives in

>> a RAID 5 array. The array is healthy.

>>

>> Unfortunately, we need temporarily need a 500gig drive for an issue

>> unrelated to this machine.

>>

>> Other than losing the protection of RAID 5, would there be any issues

>> if we shut down the server, removed one drive, and brought the server

>> back online? If we format the removed drive and use it elsewhere can

>> we still be able to reinstall it into the server and let the array

>> rebuild itself?

>>

>> From what I understand, this should all be fine, as long as we don't

>> have another drive fail in the array while a drive is removed. I also

>> know performance will suffer while the array is missing a drive.

>>

>> Does this all sound right?

>>

>

>