PowerEdge: How to Reconfigure a Virtual Disk or Add More Hard Drives
Summary: This article shows how to add additional disks to a virtual disk or reconfigure a virtual disk.
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Instructions
Note: If you have multiple Virtual Disks (VD) created on the same set of disks or you have a RAID 50 or RAID 60, the option to reconfigure will not be available.
Reconfiguration and capacity expansion is non-data destructive as an operation. If there are underlying issues with the RAID array, data can be lost, so ensure that a tested backup is available before starting any operation.
Caution: Reconfiguring Virtual Disks typically impacts disk performance until the reconfiguration operation is complete. It is highly recommended that the procedure is done during a maintenance window.
What is Online Capacity Expansion (OCE)?
Online Capacity Expansion is a process that allows a virtual disk's capacity to be expanded to existing free space on the disk group or the hard drives it contains. It also allows for new hard drives to be added to a disk group to expand the capacity of the virtual disk. The process allows for expansion without the requirement of re-creating the virtual disk.
What is RAID Level Migration (RLM)?
RAID Level Migration is the process of changing a virtual disk's RAID level while not requiring the virtual disk to be re-created. Physical disks can and sometimes must be added to fulfill the requirements of the new RAID level.
You can find a table of RAID level migration options in the Additional Information part of this article.
Steps:
- Access the BIOS by F2 > Device Settings
Figure 1: Expand Virtual Disk
- Select RAID Controller
Figure 2: Expand Virtual Disk
- In the Dashboard view, select Main Menu
Figure 3: Expand Virtual Disk
- Select Virtual Disk Management
Figure 4: Virtual Disk Management
- Select the Virtual Disk to be changed
Figure 5: Select the Virtual Disk
- In the drop-down, select Reconfigure Virtual Disks and press the GO button
Figure 6: Expand Virtual Disk
- Select the RAID Level and press Choose the Operation button
Figure 7: Select RAID Level for Virtual Disk
- Select the disks to be added to Virtual Disk and press Apply Changes button
Figure 8: Apply Changes to Virtual Disk
- Confirm the operation and click YES.
Figure 9: Confirm the Virtual Disk changes
- Press the Start Operation button
Figure 10: Start the Virtual Disk Expansion
- Press the OK button to complete the operation.
Figure 11: Ok to complete Virtual Disk expansion
- To view the status of the Virtual Disk
Figure 12: View Status of Virtual Disk expansion
After the reconstruction starts, the system can be left in the RAID BIOS until complete, or the system can be rebooted into the operating system.
Note: If the system is rebooted into the operating system, the system performance is impacted until the rebuild has been completed.
Additional Information
Related articles and videos:
How to change the RAID Level or Size of a configured Virtual Disk.
Duration: 00:01:22 (hh:mm:ss)
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Possible RAID Level Migrations:
Note:
- The controller changes the write-cache policy of all virtual disks undergoing an RLM/OCE to Write-Through until the RLM/OCE is complete.
- Spanned virtual disks such as RAID 50 and 60 cannot be reconfigured.
| Source RAID | Target RAID | Required Number of Physical Disks (Beginning) | Number of Physical Disks (End) | Capacity Expansion Possible | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAID 0 | RAID 0 | 1 | 2 or more | Yes | Increases capacity |
| RAID 0 | RAID 1 | 1 | 2 | No | Converts nonredundant virtual disk into a mirrored virtual disk by adding one disk |
| RAID 0 | RAID 5 | 1 or more | 3 or more | Yes | At least one drive must be added for distributed parity data. |
| RAID 0 | RAID 6 | 1 or more | 4 or more | Yes | At least two drives must be added for dual distributed parity data. |
| RAID 1 | RAID 0 | 2 | 2 or more | Yes | Removes redundancy while increasing capacity |
| RAID 1 | RAID 5 | 2 | 3 or more | Yes | Maintains redundancy while doubling capacity |
| RAID 1 | RAID 6 | 2 | 4 or more | Yes | Two drives must be added for distributed parity data. |
| RAID 5 | RAID 0 | 3 or more | 3 or more | Yes | Converts to a nonredundant virtual disk and reclaims disk space that is used for distributed parity data |
| RAID 5 | RAID 5 | 3 | 4 or more | Yes | It increases capacity by adding disks. |
| RAID 5 | RAID 6 | 3 or more | 4 or more | Yes | At least one drive must be added for dual distributed parity data. |
| RAID 6 | RAID 0 | 4 or more | 4 or more | Yes | Converts to a nonredundant virtual disk and reclaims disk space that is used for distributed parity data |
| RAID 6 | RAID 5 | 4 or more | 4 or more | Yes | Removes one set of parity data and reclaims the disk space that is used for it |
| RAID 6 | RAID 6 | 4 | 5 or more | Yes | It increases capacity by adding disks. |
| RAID 10 | RAID 10 | Less than 32 | 32 | Yes | It increases capacity by adding disks. |
Note: If the controller already contains the maximum number of virtual disks, you cannot perform a RAID level migration or capacity expansion on any virtual disk.
Affected Products
OEMR XL R570, OEMR XL R670, OEMR XL R770, OEMR R230, OEMR R240, OEMR R250, OEMR XE R250, OEMR R260, OEMR XE R260, OEMR R330, OEMR R340, OEMR R350, OEMR XE R350, OEMR R360, OEMR XE R360, OEMR R430, OEMR R440, PowerEdge XR2, OEMR R450, OEMR R530
, OEMR R540, OEMR R550, OEMR R5500, OEMR R630, OEMR R640, OEMR XL R640, OEMR R6415, OEMR R650, OEMR R650xs, OEMR R6515, OEMR R6525, OEMR R660, OEMR XL R660, OEMR R660xs, OEMR R6615, OEMR R6625, OEMR R730, OEMR R730xd, OEMR R740, OEMR XL R740, OEMR R740xd, OEMR XL R740xd, OEMR R740xd2, OEMR R7415, OEMR R7425, OEMR R750, OEMR R750xa, OEMR R750xs, OEMR R7515, OEMR R7525, OEMR R760, OEMR R760xa, OEMR R760XD2, OEMR XL R760, OEMR R760xs, OEMR R7615, OEMR R7625, OEMR R830, OEMR R840, OEMR R860, OEMR R930, OEMR R940, OEMR R940xa, OEMR R960, OEMR T130, OEMR T140, OEMR T150, OEMR T330, OEMR T340, OEMR T350, OEMR T360, OEMR T430, OEMR T440, OEMR T550, OEMR T560, OEMR T630, OEMR T640, OEMR XL R230, OEMR XL R240, OEMR XL R330, OEMR XL R340, OEMR XL R630, OEMR XL R660xs, OEMR XL R6615, OEMR XL R6625, OEMR XL R6715, OEMR XL R6725, OEMR XL R730, OEMR XL R730XD, OEMR XL R760xs, OEMR XL R7615, OEMR XL R7625, OEMR XL R7715, OEMR XL R7725, OEMR XR11, OEMR XR12, OEMR XR5610, OEMR XR7620, PowerEdge RAID Controller H345, PowerEdge RAID Controller H350 Adapter SAS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H355 Front SAS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H355 Adapter SAS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H365i Adapter, PowerEdge RAID Controller H365i Front DC-MHS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H730P MX, PowerEdge RAID Controller H745, PowerEdge RAID Controller H745P MX, PowerEdge RAID Controller H750 Adapter SAS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H755 Adapter, PowerEdge RAID Controller H755 MX Adapter, PowerEdge RAID Controller H755N Front NVMe, PowerEdge RAID Controller H755 Front SAS, PowerEdge RAID Controller H965i Adapter, PowerEdge RAID Controller H965i Front, PowerEdge RAID Controller H965i MX, PowerEdge RAID Controller S160, PowerEdge C4130, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge c6320, PowerEdge c6320p, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6600, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, Poweredge FC430, Poweredge FC630, PowerEdge FC640, Poweredge FC830, PowerEdge FD332, PowerEdge HS5610, PowerEdge HS5620, PowerEdge M630, PowerEdge M630 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M830, PowerEdge M830 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX5016s, PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R230, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R330, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R430, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R470, PowerEdge R530, PowerEdge R530xd, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R570, PowerEdge R630, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R670, PowerEdge R720, PowerEdge R730, PowerEdge R730xd, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R770, PowerEdge R7715, PowerEdge R7725, PowerEdge R830, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R930, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge RAID Controller S150, PowerEdge RAID Controller H330, PowerEdge RAID Controller H730, PowerEdge RAID Controller H730P, PowerEdge RAID Controller H740P, PowerEdge RAID Controller H830, PowerEdge RAID Controller H840, PowerEdge RAID Controller H965e Adapter, PowerEdge RAID Controller S130, PowerEdge RAID Controller S140, PowerEdge T130, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T330, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T430, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T630, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7100, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12, PowerEdge XR5610, PowerEdge XR7620
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Article Properties
Article Number: 000116592
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 15 Apr 2025
Version: 21
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