RAID Level Migration (LSI 320-1 Controller)

[Chewy509]

Hi Guys,

I've recently inherited a fileserver (SBS2003), who's main duties are fileserving and MSSQL2K for the Point of Sale (POS) System and Intranet/Sharepoint.

The POS was installed at the same time we inherited the management of the server.

Long story is, they are receiving numerous SQL timeout errors with POS software, and I've narrowed it down to the disk sub-system. (Problem only occurs when all 5 tills are operating, eg under heavy load). The array can't keep up with MSSQL's demands.

The current config is 3x 10K 74GB SCSI (Maxtor) in RAID5, and is only achieving approx 25MB on writes, with some bursts up to 40MB.

Since I know RAID 5 suffers from low-write performance (which is affecting MSSQL), would like to offer a solution, that is migrate to RAID10, providing they purchase another drive. (The current array has 80GB of data).

I've read through the LSI documentation, and cant' find either:
1. The LSI 320-1 controller offer RAID Level Migration? (it can migrate from RAID5 to RAID10 without loss of data, providing enough storage space is available in final RAID level).
2. or, I need to destroy the array, and rebuild from scratch.

Anyone have an idea?

PS. I'll be backing up the server before starting anyway... but don't want to have to ghost several times just to migrate the RAID levels.

 

[Bozo]

Do a backup of the entire system. Change the hardware from RAID5 to RAID 10. Reinstall the software.
The drivers for the RAID card are already installed, so it should reinstall without issues. (the drivers don't know if it is RAID 0, 1, 4, 5, 10 or whatever.)

Bozo :joker:

 

[ddrueding]

Bozo, I think Chewy is saying that the OS is installed on the RAID5 array as well.

 

[ddrueding]

I just went through the Users Guide and it doesn't look like it supports level migration; there is no menu setting that enables it. Further, it is a neat feature, and would be bragged about on their product page; it isn't.

Looks like Ghost will be your friend. With 80GB of data, it will probably be faster, anyway.

 

[Mercutio]

Ghost tends to puke when dealing with real RAID controllers. Or at least that has been my experience.

 

[Bozo]

Bozo, I think Chewy is saying that the OS is installed on the RAID5 array as well.

It will still work. Use Drive Image or Acronis. I have never used Ghost.
Drive Image doesn't seem to care where you reinstall, as long as the OS has the drivers installed first. In this case they should be as the OS is booting from the array already.

Bozo :joker:

 

[sechs]

Ghost tends to puke when dealing with real RAID controllers. Or at least that has been my experience.

I've never had a problem with Ghost and RAID controllers (real or imagined).

If you run ghost32 from within Windows (such as a PE disk), then it's even less of a problem.

 

[Chewy509]

I just went through the Users Guide and it doesn't look like it supports level migration; there is no menu setting that enables it. Further, it is a neat feature, and would be bragged about on their product page; it isn't.

Looks like Ghost will be your friend. With 80GB of data, it will probably be faster, anyway.

Thanks for the confirmation, just wanted to make sure I hadn't missed it, or LSI was using an alternate name for the same functionality.

Like Merc says, I haven't had a lot of success with Ghost (early versions) on real RAID controllers, so will have to obtain a newer Ghost version or a copy of TrueImage (or similar).

Well, it's time to take my evidence and recommendations to the company then...

PS. The OS and everything is on the single array...

 

[ddrueding]

This is one of the reasons I always put the OS on either a single drive or RAID-1. If the system has room, you might include that recommendation; just a pair of cheap drives would make later maintenance easier, and would make your current migration a snap

 

[Mercutio]

I've never had a problem with Ghost and RAID controllers (real or imagined).

If you run ghost32 from within Windows (such as a PE disk), then it's even less of a problem.

Versions of Ghost that are actually Drive Image don't count.

I know trying to make actual Ghost work with Dell and Compaq controllers (both, I think, LSI controllers OEM'd) and with ICP controllers was not fun or enjoyable.

 

[sechs]

My version of Ghost is always Ghost and never that other crap.

Never had any trouble with LSI controllers....