adding a drive to a RAID0 array

[bwanaaa]

I do some video editing and need more space. Currently, I am using a RAID0 array of 2 hitachi 250 g drives but want to add another. The RAID0 volume is everything in this pc- boot volume, photoshop directory and scratch disk. From what I've read, adding another drive will make this array significantly faster as well-but i'm doing this principally for more space.

Can I add a drive without reformatting?

sorry if this is the wrong forum but i dont know where to post 'storage' questions.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Unfortunately, you'll have to recreate the array, forcing you to reformat.

 

[tallman45]

For better performance, keep the 2 drive Raid 0 array and get a cheap 3rd drive and make it your Photoshop Scratch disk. The scratch disk should be on a separate physical drive on a separate channel from Photoshop

For even better performance get a WD 160gb YS Sata drive and move your OS to that, an OS performs much better when not on a Raid 0 array. It is a single platter Enterprise class drive

These 2 options are your simplest choices and keeps the other data on the Raid 0 Intact

You will notice a significant total sytsem performance increase with this 4 drive system and both drives can be had for a total of under $100 outlay total

160gb YS

80 JD SATA

 

[bwanaaa]

tnx for your replies. iwas afraid of that. i think i am going to image the current array and just reload it after adding a drive to the the array.


btw, using a separate hd as a scratch disk is faster if PS resides on a hard drive. however, if ps is on a raid0 array, keeping everything on the array is faster. sorry but i forget the reference. it surprised me when i saw the results.

 

[tallman45]

Originally posted by: bwanaaa
tnx for your replies. iwas afraid of that. i think i am going to image the current array and just reload it after adding a drive to the the array.


btw, using a separate hd as a scratch disk is faster if PS resides on a hard drive. however, if ps is on a raid0 array, keeping everything on the array is faster. sorry but i forget the reference. it surprised me when i saw the results.

Windows is definately slower on a Raid 0

May wat to post your PS Scratch findings on DPreview in the PC forums, there are many Digital Darkroom PC builders that have other opinions

 

[Madwand1]

Originally posted by: bwanaaa
I do some video editing and need more space. Currently, I am using a RAID0 array of 2 hitachi 250 g drives but want to add another. The RAID0 volume is everything in this pc- boot volume, photoshop directory and scratch disk. From what I've read, adding another drive will make this array significantly faster as well-but i'm doing this principally for more space.

Can I add a drive without reformatting?

This depends entirely on your RAID implementation (as do most things about RAID). I believe that it can't be done with Intel RAID (but check your own docs), but might be possible with nVIDIA RAID. It's typically possible with high-end RAID controllers.

(And you cannot just change controllers to solve this problem, as RAID sets are typically not portable among different implementations.)

Once you've expanded the RAID array, you need to expand the file system partition (or create another one). There are tools which can do this.

Edit: Operations of this sort are inherently risky, and shouldn't be done without a full backup. And if you have a full backup, you have another alternative -- just use backup / restore. Sometimes that's also faster.

 

[cuti7399]

i have the os on 2 raptors in raid0 and it's fast

 

[lopri]

Originally posted by: tallman45
Windows is definately slower on a Raid 0

How do you mean?

MadWand1 is right. I doubt any on-board RAID controller would let you add a new volume to your existing RAID0 array. Never tried, but I'd rather avoid it even if it's possible.

Edit: I just checked NV MediaShield User Guide, and it's indeed possible to add an additional disk to an existing RAID0. But the Guide is old (looks like it was written for NF4 PATA/SATA RAID) so I don't know if this applies to their newer chipsets. Either way, I would avoid the potential headache. Also, considering most disk controllers 'pair' physical disks, I'd rather go for 4-disk array instead of 3-disk array. And if you do go for 3-disk array, I'd suggest you leave the 4th port open. (not connecting other HDDs or Optical drivers)

If you're serious about disk performance, you'd better of getting a true hardware solution. But be fore-warned - They're not cheap.