Raid 1 question

Dist · 24 Jun 2009 at 20:27

If i wanted to get a new PC, but still retain the use of my old PC, is it possible to buy a new HDD and place it in my current PC, create a RAID 1 array, then transfer that HDD to the new machine? It would mean that i could duplicate my current HDDs contents exactly and save having to install everything from scratch.

Is it possible to build a RAID 1 array with a drive thats already used, or does the array have to start from scratch? And when the array is formed, can i simply remove the 2nd HDD and set the RAID 1 array back to a normal HDD, and use the 2nd HDD in any other machine, or does it require a RAID card of same make in the 2nd PC?

Rroff · 24 Jun 2009 at 21:08

If your building a new PC you'll want to reinstall the OS anyhow...

I'd deffinatly backup any data on the disc as well... my RAID controller does allow me to create arrays preserving the data from one disc back onto the array - but theres no guarantees.

Again arrays are generally tied to a specific controller so usually - but not always - moving to another motherboard will result in the array being unreadable on the new PC.

Dist · 24 Jun 2009 at 22:33

Thanks for the help. If its best to install the OS fresh then i may as well do that for everything. May take a bit longer then i had planned but at least it will mean i don't have to worry about RAID controllers, and i everything will be up to date.

Rroff · 24 Jun 2009 at 22:36

Oh I mis-read some of what you were saying...

Its perfectly possible to clone a HDD to another HDD exactly without having to bother about RAID or anything like that if you want to migrate your current OS setup to another PC - although a reinstall of the OS is far better as otherwise you run the risk of chipset driver incompatibilities, etc. which could result in an impact on the new PC's performance or random crashes.

Theres software that will clone a HDD to a new bootable HDD.

malcolm · 24 Jun 2009 at 22:57

Dist said:
Is it possible to build a RAID 1 array with a drive thats already used, or does the array have to start from scratch? And when the array is formed, can i simply remove the 2nd HDD and set the RAID 1 array back to a normal HDD, and use the 2nd HDD in any other machine, or does it require a RAID card of same make in the 2nd PC?

When a disc is used in a Raid Array it is marked somewhere in the boot sector as part of a raid set. If you have a boot disc in a PC that is not part of a raid set I don't believe you could turn that into part of a raid set and still boot from it as a single disc in what would then be a 'failed' array.

As Rroff says, in a new m/c you should re-install anyway to suit the new hardware.