External ESata Raid Problem

[nwfdvd]

Hi all, I have External Esata Raid Device ( 5x HD ), I put 5x 1TB WD HD in the device.

Because of windows limitation of HD Size ( Max 3.7 TB ) my Raid Size is 4TB, so to Solve it I use these senario to make full use of the Raid Size:
1- I Split the Raid 5 to 50% of Each HD Size for all 5x HD to make 1 Raid Storage = 2TB spilited in 5x 50% HD.
2- The other 50% of each HD = 2TB in all 5xHD as 2 Raid.

then I format both Storage and work fine.
is my way of working is good 100% ?? or there is another way best than this ?
What I want is Full size 4TB in 1 HD but WindowsXP SP3 don't support 4TB only 3.7TB Max for 5x 1TB = 5TB with Raid5 = 4TB only

now after 2 months I face problem that 1xHD from the Storage 1 is marked as ( Orphan ), and the other Part of the same HD from Storage 2 is working fine 100%.

So How I can fix the Orphan Drive ??
My Sulotion was:
1- I delete the Orphan Device.
2- Rebuild the Raid --- Nothing Happend
3- Restart System more than 3 times, and choice the Rebuild the Raid many times but nothing appear or happend - like I didn't click anything.
4- after that I delete the Raid that have ( Reduce Size ) and want to Create it again, but nothing happend.
5- Then I get an idea that I remove the HD that cause the problem, it was ID4 = HD no5.
6- So I remove the HD no5 ( Hot Plugin ) and Reinsert it again, then my system make my other Raid 2 as REDUCED device also same the Raid 1.
7- Now my System start creating and building the Raid 2 Automatic without any click from me.
8- and for Raid 1 nothing happend, I can't create or do anything ?

My Question is:
1- How to fix Orphan Device if it appear next time ??
2- How to create the Raid 1 - I try to create but nothing appear or happend, is it related to the system that it's running the Raid 2 building ( more than 16 Hour to finish ) ??
3- Is there sulotion for me to make 1 Big Raid have 4TB Full Size for all my Raid 5=5x 1TB.

I have Pictures of my Devices also.

Picture1
Picture2
Picture3
Picture4
Picture5
Picture6

Best Regrad's
Nawaf Al-Tamimi

 

[ch33zw1z]

The difference between 4TB and 3.7TB is negligible compared to what you're getting from the RAID 5. Your solution is unique indeed. Please post the complete system specs to help us help you.

1) I'm not sure what the "Orphan" device is, what does the documentation tell you about it?

2) if you want a RAID 1, you need to kill the current arrays. Make two disks a RAID 1, and use the 3 remaining for your RAID 5.

3)Yes, RAID 5 should give you that 3.7TB. Keep in mind that using RAID offers redundancy at a price, and that price is disk space. If also offers peace of mind, that a disk (or disks in some RAIDs) fails...all is not lost. Plan accordingly.

 

[nwfdvd]

When a member of a mirrored or RAID-5 volume fails, it becomes an orphan. The operating system determines that it can no longer be used and directs reading and writing all new data to the remaining members of the fault-tolerant volume.

Now I want Big Size HD for Video Files ( I have Satellite DVB-S Card ) to capture Mpeg2 Video in HD and Also, Canopus HD/SD Hardware for Video Editing.
And All the Video Files and my Photo's inside that Raid's

I have more than 320GB full of Photo's and Picture's ( Family all data - video - picture's ) and others and documents also like ( invoice's - passports...etc ) all s photo's

So that Why I need the Raid big size for Storage + I want Raid Safty as Raid5 to have backup for my files, also fast restoring not slow as normal Tapes.

So haveing 5TB from 5xHD and getting 4TB I think is FARE ..but lossing it to 3.7TB mean .3TB ( 300GB ) additional waste is not accepted to me

So now what I do ?

Do I delete all volumes ?? and rebuild it ?
Do I make it 3.7TB and work with it ?? what happend to my Esata when Windows 7 released and my system see the Esata ? is it going to see it as 4TB or 3.7TB in the future ?? and do I have to delete and format my raid again in Windows7 when it released ? or I stay and keep WindowsXP SP3 for ever ??

If I want to make it 3.7TB do I format it in windowsxp as dynamic or baseic device ?
and thanks alot for the early reply...

 

[ch33zw1z]

3.7TB is what you get after formatting it. Hard drive manufacturers calculate the disk space is base 10, while computers/the OS do it in base 2, disk space will always be less than advertised after you format.

Not sure on the Windows 7 question, you didn't list the complete system specs, so I have no idea what hardware you're running.

edit: also, if you're serious about running a big RAID like that, you should plan on having a couple spare 1TB drives handy for when one fails.