Can I Move RAID Array?

[Rustynuts]

Want to upgrade MB's and move my existing IDE RAID 0 over. Is this possible without messing up the array? WIll the new controller "see" my old array or try to overwrite? What about the XP pro installation, will it prompt for new drivers?

Also, What's this I hear about IDE to SATA converters? Can I get these and run SATA RAID on the new MB? :wave:

[ginipig]

Yeah, is it possible, Tex?

[Shorty]

STOP NOW... DON'T TOUCH THAT ARRAY!!!

Before you even consider it.. back away.

First... we need to know what RAID controller/Motherboard you have now.. and what your new board will have. Is it integrated or PCI ?? :)

There is no way in hell you can just unhook two raided drives and stick them on another controller and hope :eek:

Post back with your current controller/mobo and what you replacing and I can tell you if it's possible :)

[ginipig]

Sil3112, the integrated controller on my nforce2 mobo.

[Shorty]

Which controller are you planning on moving it from and to?

Thats what I need to know.. what is it on now and what are you planning on moving it to :)

I will say.. unless the controllers are the same including BIOS revision.. it won't work. Also, as these are integrated controllers, even with the same BIOS.. there is still a large chance the array won't move :(

Post back what you got :)

[gtghm]

Sil3112, the integrated controller on my nforce2 mobo.

What is the new controller going to be?

The chance that it will transfer is slim.

Usually the only way you can get them to transfer is to go with the same controller manufacture and even then it pretty slim chance that it will upgrade.

About the only way that you can transfer is if you go to another exact controller and even then there might be a chance that you'll break the array and lose all your data.

What you want to do is a tricky ordeal.

Best way to do this is get a copy of drive image and do a complete back up of the data on the array then you can blow away the existing array install your new MOB and controller create a new array and then use drive image to restore the saved data.

One thig to note: If you have multiple partitions on your existing array and back them up you will have to recreate the partitions exactly in size as they were on the old array on the new array before you can resote the partition images.
You might have to use partition magic to create a c partitions if your starting from scratch....

This can be a time consuming affair but I know it can be done because I just did this same thing like 6 months ago when I lost one of raid 0 drives and then restored the data from a backup once I got my drive back from RMA...

"g"

[Mt_Goat]

Play it safe and back it up. Then if you feel real lucky.......

As already mentioned, you only have a chance if it is from/to the same model controller. If it includes your O/S then you will need to do a "Repair Install" also if the chipset is different.

[profdlp]

Backup and RAID ought to be surgically joined at the hip.

It is possible, but by no means guaranteed. I have had fair success running Norton Disc Doctor (booting from the Norton CD) and having it detect and rebuild the partition spanning the drives.

If you count on this happening and don't bother with backup, Murphy will bite you on the a$$.

[Spinner]

Even in a ideal situation where you're migrating to exactly the same controller, BIOS version etc etc, I still wouldn't risk it. I've been lucky with my RAID arrays over the years, but I've seen RAID arrays just disingrate at the mere thought of changing something. If you've got a backup, then there is no harm in trying. But otherwise I wouldn't recommend it. RAID can be your best friend and your worst enemy. Treat it with respect, and you stand more of a chance of coming out the experience with your data intact.

But yea, more info please.

[mmonnin]

Pretty sure you will piss it off somewhere.

[Gobbles]

yeah... this is a tricky one.. all depends on the controller. I had an external silo with 3 scsi drives in a raid 5 sent back for testing, I slapped it on an adaptec 2100 raid controller and the controller recognized it. I still killed it and recreated it but anywho..

BACK UP YOUR DATA!!!!!!

dont be one of those users who does not... CD's are cheap back up to them, yes its time consuming but worth it or get a reg ide drive and image your system and save the image to the ide drive. I recommend Power Quests Drive Image.. good tool and easy to use. Im sure you can dig up a "demo" *wink wink* some where on the web...

Gobbles

[Rustynuts]

I've got a Soyo Dragon Plus! with integrated Embedded Promise PDC 20265R IDE RAID chip, providing IDE RAID 0,1 function. I don't know what I will be buying yet, that's why I'm asking the question now before I mess up.

I can't believe it's this difficult to move, seems like a lot of people would want to do it with upgrades and such.

I've got a 160G array, how do I image something that big? I looked at Ghost, but it's compression is only 60% or so. That's a lot of CD's! My OS is on the array and I only have one partition. Guess I should have split it for just the OS, but it was my first time trying RAID and I didn't want to get fancy!

My current array is with two WD 80G standard drives (not the 8M special) in a RAID 0. Nothing is really important on the machine, mainly games. Just don't want the hassle of reinstalling XP and all the updates! Maybe I'll wait until SP2 comes out to make the updates easier. Although I did just order a 9800Pro to replace and old GF3. Best time to get rid of the old Dets by reformatting!

[Shorty]

Get a seperate 160gb drive when you buy your new board :)

Hard drives are considerably less expensive than they used to be. Hook it up to an IDE, copy what you need to save off your array. Change over board & so on. Build new array on controller, copy data back from aforementioned 160gb drive. Keep that drive in your system for regular data backup. (in the event of your RAID array failing).

Ya done :)

[Rustynuts]

I may have to do that! Right now skydiving without a parachute with only the RAID 0. Have to start looking for deals. Probably just hook it up intermittently for backups to prevent excess heat from the dormant drive. Can you tell the unused drive to go to sleep until needed, and how much heat would it give off in that state? I'm only doing air cooling.

[Shorty]

I may have to do that! Right now skydiving without a parachute with only the RAID 0. Have to start looking for deals. Probably just hook it up intermittently for backups to prevent excess heat from the dormant drive. Can you tell the unused drive to go to sleep until needed, and how much heat would it give off in that state? I'm only doing air cooling.

You need one of these:

http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/item2814.htm

Probably even cheaper in your country.

Just slots a shell into a spare 5 and half inch drive bay. Just stick your backup drive into the caddy part. Then when you want to use it, power down your system.. slide the caddy into the slot and boot. Ya done. Easy as that.

[Rustynuts]

Perfect! Forgot they had those. Now to find a HD deal! :respect:

[Straight_Man]

You need one of these:

http://www.rlsupplies.co.uk/item2814.htm

Probably even cheaper in your country.

Just slots a shell into a spare 5 and half inch drive bay. Just stick your backup drive into the caddy part. Then when you want to use it, power down your system.. slide the caddy into the slot and boot. Ya done. Easy as that.

Not really cheaper, about $15.00-20.00 for ATA\100 or 133 kits with caddy and tray. T'is what I've been nattering away about with IDE Cold-Swap for a long while.... Have about 10 harddrives in the trays, 4 bays or shells as you call them, like to play musical O\Ss... :D

John D.

[choddo]

Sorry to bump this but it's exactly what I'm looking into and you guys seem to be very knowledgeable on this...

What makes my situation a little different is that it's a dead mobo so no chance of taking the data off for backup, PLUS it's RAID1 so I'm wondering two things;

1. It's a Via VT4610 chip - can I move to a new board (old model isn't available any more) using the same chip and just plug them in?

2. Does using RAID1 mean that each drive will actually work fine on its own on a normal IDE channel anyway? It's not my machine and I'm too nervous to test this idea on someone else's data!

Any advice much appreciated as a friend has ripped 600 of his CDs onto this array before killing the machine.