Guest saflyfish Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question is this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk be formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this doesnt answer my question Thanks
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. > I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question > is > this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk > be > formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this > doesnt > answer my question > > Thanks It must be unformatted and unpartitioned. The Windows Disk Manager will let you remove all existing partitions. Keep in mind that while having a server with a mirrored disk is a fine thing, the vast majority of all problems are software related. If you want to play it safe then you must create a full back-up of your system disk, or alternatively an image. Not only this; you must then test that backup. An untested backup is close to useless.
Guest dan Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. > I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question > is > this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk > be > formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this > doesnt > answer my question > > Thanks saflyfish, I'd strongly urge you not to use software RAID. I used it (once) on one of my early servers and had all sorts of problems later when I wanted to image the drives and install the image on larger drives. The imaging programs really don't like dynamic disks.
Guest Pegasus \(MVP\) Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? "dan" <dan(remove)@westerveltconsulting.com> wrote in message news:ORVSsaCDJHA.4700@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >>I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. >> I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question >> is >> this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk >> be >> formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this >> doesnt >> answer my question >> >> Thanks > > saflyfish, I'd strongly urge you not to use software RAID. I used it > (once) on one of my early servers and had all sorts of problems later when > I wanted to image the drives and install the image on larger drives. The > imaging programs really don't like dynamic disks. I completely agree.
Guest Dusko Savatovic Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? I'm using Symantec Ghost Solution Suite for imaging. Ghost can read dynamic disks without a problem, but it can only write to basic disks. FWIW, dynamic disk mirror saved my bacon on several ocasions, last time a month ago. I do agree, however, that hardware RAID 1 is better, but I cannot always make a buying decision. Dush "dan" <dan(remove)@westerveltconsulting.com> wrote in message news:ORVSsaCDJHA.4700@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > > "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >>I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. >> I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question >> is >> this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk >> be >> formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this >> doesnt >> answer my question >> >> Thanks > > saflyfish, I'd strongly urge you not to use software RAID. I used it > (once) on one of my early servers and had all sorts of problems later when > I wanted to image the drives and install the image on larger drives. The > imaging programs really don't like dynamic disks. > > > >
Guest dan Posted September 1, 2008 Posted September 1, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? I certainly agree software RAID is much better than no RAID at all. "Dusko Savatovic" <nospam.savatovic@gmail.com> wrote in message news:eaT1BLFDJHA.2060@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl... > I'm using Symantec Ghost Solution Suite for imaging. > Ghost can read dynamic disks without a problem, but it can only write to > basic disks. > FWIW, dynamic disk mirror saved my bacon on several ocasions, last time a > month ago. > I do agree, however, that hardware RAID 1 is better, but I cannot always > make a buying decision. > > Dush > > "dan" <dan(remove)@westerveltconsulting.com> wrote in message > news:ORVSsaCDJHA.4700@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... >> >> "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >>>I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. >>> I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My >>> question is >>> this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk >>> be >>> formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this >>> doesnt >>> answer my question >>> >>> Thanks >> >> saflyfish, I'd strongly urge you not to use software RAID. I used it >> (once) on one of my early servers and had all sorts of problems later >> when I wanted to image the drives and install the image on larger drives. >> The imaging programs really don't like dynamic disks. >> >> >> >> >
Guest Hank Arnold (MVP) Posted September 2, 2008 Posted September 2, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? dan wrote: > "saflyfish" <saflyfish@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:12150DE2-08C9-466B-B050-F45A3A135B67@microsoft.com... >> I want to create a software raid for my 2003 server. >> I believe i have to convert both hard drives to dynamic disks.My question >> is >> this: when i add the second drive(drive to be mirrored to) must the disk >> be >> formatted or unformatted?Microsoft says RAW or unpartitioned but this >> doesnt >> answer my question >> >> Thanks > > saflyfish, I'd strongly urge you not to use software RAID. I used it (once) > on one of my early servers and had all sorts of problems later when I wanted > to image the drives and install the image on larger drives. The imaging > programs really don't like dynamic disks. > > > > I agree 1000%. A vendor once created a software RAID 5 array on a serve. Long story short, we lost all the data on the array (thank the gods for tape backups). I'm curious, what imaging software do you use that *does* support RAID arrays? My problem with them (we use Ghost CE) is how the drivers get loaded.... -- Regards, Hank Arnold Microsoft MVP Windows Server - Directory Services
Guest Dusko Savatovic Posted September 2, 2008 Posted September 2, 2008 Re: Windows server 2003 raid 1 query? "Hank Arnold (MVP)" <rasilon@aol.com> wrote <snip> > I agree 1000%. A vendor once created a software RAID 5 array on a serve. > Long story short, we lost all the data on the array (thank the gods for > tape backups). > > I'm curious, what imaging software do you use that *does* support RAID > arrays? My problem with them (we use Ghost CE) is how the drivers get > loaded.... Well, I use Symantec Ghost Solution Suite. It runs on WinPE. And as you know, you can include mass storage drivers in WinPE.
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