is it possible to convert a raid 0 to raid 1 without losing any data

Question

I'm currently running a Raid 0 configuration and wondering if I could switch it to a Raid 1 config without losing any data currently on the 2 drives. Is there any software that will allow it to happen? Do I have to create a complete image of the raid 0; reconfigure and re-format and then restore the image? I currently have 2, 640 gig drives running Raid 0. About 300 gig is currently stored on the array. Would the back-up image be 300 gig or 1.2 terrabytes.

Thanks.

Solution 1

I'm afraid you would have to back up and restore or create a new RAID1 array using two different disks and copy everything to them.

As you'd backup at the filesystem level, not the block device level, you'd need 300GB of storage.

Solution 2

I did this recently with my Alienware laptop (2 x 100GB drives in RAID 0).

I used Norton Ghost ver8 to back up the drives to a plug in USB drive then reconfigured my RAID to RAID 1 and restored my image from Norton Ghost.

The disk size changed (obviously) but Norton Ghost handles it very well.

Hope this helps.

Solution 3

Is there any software that will allow it to happen?

I'm not aware of anything and I wouldn't trust anything that claimed to do it. I've seen "proper" hardware RAID controllers that let you do things like add disks to an existing array, but nothing to convert RAID 0 to something else.

My point of view is that you pretty much HAVE to back up in order to be sure your data is safe, and that that point why not just do things the "old fashioned" way anyway?

Do I have to create a complete image of the raid 0; reconfigure and re-format and then restore the image?

You don't have to do it as a disk image as such (though that might be the quickest method) but this is how I would do it.

I currently have 2, 640 gig drives running Raid 0. About 300 gig is currently stored on the array. Would the back-up image be 300 gig or 1.2 terrabytes.

Oh... 300Gb. You back up the files you have, not a bit by bit image of the disk (which would only be 600/640Gb anyway as this is the size of the logical drive that is sitting on your RAID 0 stripe).

Comments

[Kevin Kuphal]

Need more details about OS, RAID controller (hardware or software), etc.

[Oskar Duveborn]

+1 Also advanced raid controllers that can migrate between levels normally only permit "going up" (raid5 add disk, raid1 to raid5, raid5 to raid6) - not down-size:ing or changing to a completely different kind of raid. Migrating a raid0 to raid3 sounds possible in theory but that would need another disk and a controller supporting it ^^