Switching a server from single disk -> RAID (using image)

caff

caff

caff

Soldato
Joined
8 Feb 2004
Posts
3,821
Location
London
I'm a developer, and I have 3 servers running with a single disk in - this is obviously dangerous in the event of a disk failure, and the IT ops teams agree, so they will spend a weekend upgrading them.

Their plan is to create an image of the servers, then install an additional disk, enable RAID-1, then restore the images to the servers.

These are production systems running services like AD, SQL2000, MS Exchange, plus all the usual things. There are lots of 'networking rules' on the machines too to link to servers offsite too.

Is there a potential for anything to go wrong with this? Not that I'm paranoid or anything...
 
There is always a margin for error such as the image gets corrupted or the new/old hard drive goes bang in the middle of doing it, but speaking from experience (I have done this more than once) it's always worked for me.

I would suggest if possible you get them to test the image before doing it though (I assume they will anyway) to make sure it does work, nothing worse than a corrupted image!
 
Last edited:
Take two images, make sure you have a decent disaster recovery plan and your normal backups to hand and even if things do go wrong at least you can put it back to it's initial state.

Burnsy
 
I would keep the original drives as a master, then it is easy to reinstate them if you have any problems.

I would go for RAID 5 / RAID 10 instead of RAID 1 which I would not use on any Server.

Use Acronis or Backup for Workgroups depending on what you can afford to make an image / backup of each Server, then install the new drive(s) and then restore the image back to each Server.
 
marin said:
I would keep the original drives as a master, then it is easy to reinstate them if you have any problems.

I would go for RAID 5 / RAID 10 instead of RAID 1 which I would not use on any Server.

Use Acronis or Backup for Workgroups depending on what you can afford to make an image / backup of each Server, then install the new drive(s) and then restore the image back to each Server.
Click to expand...

I would go down this route too, use new disks and restore the image to them and keep the original as the "if it doesn't work" option
 
I missed the bit about a strpe set. I would absoluetly NOT recommend this on a server configuration. IMO, I'd only consider RAID 5 or a mirror.

Burnsy
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom