How to move RAID 1 to RAID 1+0

Question

I have two HP disks in RAID 1 (300 Gb), and would like to at 2 additional disks in RAID 1+0 having in total of 600 Gb on C:.

I would like to know is it possible to do it using Array Configuration Utility without loosing and data?

Controller is Smart Array P410i 512Mb.

Solution 1

Yes, this is possible using the HP Array Configuration Utility. The term you're interested in is "Array Transformation". See page #16 of the manual.

• Add the physical drives.
• Expand the array.
• At that point, you'll either want to add a new logical drive or expand the existing.
• If you expand the existing, you may require downtime since it's your C: drive.

HP even has a video detailing this..

Other relevant questions here:

Online resize logicaldrive on Smart Array P410i

RAID5 on SmartArray P410i online resize

Can I convert a 1 disk RAID 0 to RAID 1?

Solution 2

is it possible to do it using Array Configuration Utility without losing and data?

You don't mention which specific SmartArray controller you have but on all recent models online-RAID-migration is possible and safe, but slow.

Comments

[John]

sorry, controller is Smart Array P410i 512Mb

[Chopper3]

Ok, well with that model you need either a battery backing for the cache (which I assume you have as part of the 512MB cache thing) or Flash-based cache - which again you may have. If you have either you can do migrations live :) You're going to want to know how next aren't you? If so I'd need to know what OS you're running first.

[John]

great info. I would like to have it all on one logical drive. Is there a recommended solution, or having RAID10 with 4 disks on one logical drive is acceptable solution?

[John]

I am on SBS2011 but ewwite provided very detailed explanation

[ewwhite]

It's a fine solution, but depending on your OS, you'll need to resize the actual C: partition offline once you're done with the HP tasks.

[John]

I am on SBS2011, what do you mean by resizing C partition offline?

[ewwhite]

@John You need to grow your C: filesystem to take advantage of the new space. That's beyond the scope of this question, though.

[John]

can you share a link so I can read some more on that topic?