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Expand RAID-5 Configuration
Hi community
I want to expand my RAID 5 that have 3 SAS disks of 300GB each, I added one disk with the same capacity, the new disk is in "ready" status, In total now that are 4 SAS 300GB
How Can I configure to expand the storage of total RAID 5, Consider that the current OS is VMware Vsphere and I want not loss my data and virtual machines.
Can you help me with the right tool to do this activity?
Specifications:
Server: T620
OS: Vmware Vsphere
RAID: 5
Thanks
Best Wishes
DELL-Shine K
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May 4th, 2021 23:00
You can achieve this using controller BIOS or OMSA. Refer below link for more details
For controller BIOS (Ctrl - R) refer "Reconfiguration Of Virtual Disks" section on page 18
https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_ser_stor_net/esuprtl_adapters/poweredge-rc-h310_User's%20Guide_en-us.pdf
OMSA
https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-tw/openmanage-server-administrator-v9.5/omss_9.5_users_guide/virtual-disk-task-reconfigure-step-1-of-3?guid=guid-2a70dd5e-e97c-4e12-94cf-3ea4f827eb00&lang=en-us
Note : It is good practice to backup your data before carrying out any maintenance tasks.
WilliamsMex
31 Posts
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May 5th, 2021 08:00
Dear @DELL-Shine K
Ok thank you so much for the information.
Tell me about the backup, my current OS is VMware Vsphere above the RAID, The process backup will have to be pointing to VMware or el backup about the RAID-5? I'm confused in this part.
Thanks.
DELL-Shine K
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May 5th, 2021 20:00
WilliamsMex
31 Posts
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May 10th, 2021 11:00
OK @DELL-Shine K
I have did the backup of data, thanks
mydevel
8 Posts
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January 28th, 2024 04:51
@DELL-Shine K
Hi there, I want to expand my Windows 2012 R2 Server Dell R610 [C:] partition (RAID-5 including four SAS 136GB) by adding two SAS 136GB. I noticed through OSMA I can reconfigure the raid. is that a simple task or I have to be high concern. any advise would be appreciated. the server is production server and hosting a 2012 hyper-v virtual server which is part of failover cluster. Thanks
(edited)
DELL-Young E
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January 29th, 2024 02:15
Hello, this may help:
https://dell.to/3Um7Nej
mydevel
8 Posts
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January 29th, 2024 17:49
@DELL-Young E
Thank you for great article. As I understand from the article I can replace one of my physical hard disk (136GB) with larger one (for example 600GB) so I'll have more disk space? please confirm that possible. regarding backup, do you mean make a backup of my important file or make full backup as restore point? Thanks
DELL-Chris H
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January 29th, 2024 17:55
Mydevel,
You can replace the drives with larger ones, one at a time until each finish rebuilding, but that won't increase the size of the Virtual Disk itself, you would need to create a new Virtual Disk with the additional space created.
As far as the backup, it is suggested to do a full complete backup of the data.
Let me know if this helps.
mydevel
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January 29th, 2024 18:38
@DELL-Chris H
Hi, sorry if I ask too many question. I'm new to these stuff. is there any article or documents that explain the steps? if I replace current 136G hard disk by 600G one by one and make a new virtual disk is that possible to merge two virtual disk into one? my plan is to extend [C] partition not adding new partition as [D]. Thanks again.
DELL-Chris H
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January 29th, 2024 20:08
Unfortunatly the only supported way to do so on that generation would be backing everything up, deleting the Virtual Disks, remove the smaller drives, insert the new larger drives, recreate the Virtual Disk, and then reinstalling the OS and restoring the data. The reason being is that it is the most stable option. Now if you like you can look at the posting here that goes over some of the unsupported ways of doing it, but have a lot of good information to help.
mydevel
8 Posts
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January 29th, 2024 21:29
@DELL-Chris H Thank you