Windows server 2003 raid 1 query?

[saflyfish]

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

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

 

[dan]

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.

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

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.

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

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.
>
>
>
>

 

[dan]

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.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>

 

[Hank Arnold (MVP)]

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

 

[Dusko Savatovic]

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.