So, the big day is 2/20/06. The two new harddrives are here – the challenge will be to transfer the files, as I cannot operate two Raids in the machine at the same time. So somehow, I will have to move the data off the existing Raid onto the new Raid, without having the drives in the machine at the same time. I would rather not have to go through and reconfigure the server (after reinstalling it). So, the question of the day is, how do you move an entire server system and the files onto that new Raid. Any ideas? Help wanted.
2 thoughts on “Server Harddrive Swap”
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If it’s a RAID 1, demote/break the mirror via the RAID admin interface, add the new drive, format it, and copy the data. Then remove the other old drive and boot to the new one. Presuming that works, add the second new drive and reestablish the mirror. After it’s all said and done, you’ll have the two old drives as backups in case something happens right away on the new drives.
If it’s a RAID 0 (stripe where the volume spans both existing drives), you’ve got a problem. In that case, you can’t separate the drives from one another. You’d need to use a secondary location like a portable hard drive to hold the data, then install the new drives and prep them, then copy the data back.
Actually, this method (the external drive) might be the best bet. This would let you install the new drives and rebuild the server from scratch. Great way to clean out any junk left over from applications that have been installed but are no longer needed on the system.
The server runs great. I think a rebuild would be overkill. It’s only running its own OS, Retrospect, and Now Up To Date & Contact. I like the idea of breaking the RAID (I think it is a Raid 1 – the drives are simply mirrored). That would save a ton of time if it worked. I would still copy the whole thing to an external drive before I mess with the raid, just to be safe. Any other thoughts anyone?