RAID 5 Array in Windows with Used Drives

[DaCurryman]

OK, so here's my situation. I'm planning on a home file server with 6x200gb hard drives in RAID 5 which would come out to 1 TB of space.

I already have 2x200gb drives that are maxed out, which is why I need the additional space. I have purchased an additional 4x200gb to give me the total of 6 drives which I need for 1TB in RAID 5. I am planning to go with a software RAID setup using the Windows XP Pro hack shown here.

Now the question is that can I add the 2 filled drives along with the 4 blank drives to create the RAID array and keep all the data on the 2 filled drives? Will Windows automatically stripe & parity them as needed as part of an initial rebuilding? Or do I need to find somewhere to dump 400GB of data and then configure the array and then copy everything back to the 6 disk array?

I hope I don't have to copy, because I don't know where I'm going to put 400GB of data. Thanks in advance for any help!!

 

[themusgrat]

I'm pretty sure not. Bring them over to a friend's house and copy. In making a RAID array, it makes you format them all.

 

[Smilin]

It won't automatically restripe the drives. It only has the ability to expand a volume once that is done. We typically rely on hardware raid controllers to handle the first part.

 

[Smilin]

Also,

If you aren't backing up 400gigs now, how do you expect to do it for 1TB? Remember RAID is NOT a substitute for backups.

be careful.

 

[DaCurryman]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Also,

If you aren't backing up 400gigs now, how do you expect to do it for 1TB? Remember RAID is NOT a substitute for backups.

be careful.

I agree it's not a substitute for backups, but most of it isnt personally critical. It's not my work or school files. It's movies, music, and telelvision. It's a central location to stream files throughout my house. The reason for the RAID 5 array is to allow for a little redundancy so if any single drive were to die, I wouldnt lose everything. If the whole system dies, then I'm outta luck, but I can't possible backup 1TB.

 

[DaCurryman]

Originally posted by: themusgrat
I'm pretty sure not. Bring them over to a friend's house and copy. In making a RAID array, it makes you format them all.

Oh boy...now I gotta find a friend with 400gb of free space....

What happens if I build the array with the 4 empty disks first, then copy over the 400gb of data, format the 2 used disks and then add them to the array? Will that work?

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: DaCurryman

Originally posted by: themusgrat
I'm pretty sure not. Bring them over to a friend's house and copy. In making a RAID array, it makes you format them all.

Oh boy...now I gotta find a friend with 400gb of free space....

What happens if I build the array with the 4 empty disks first, then copy over the 400gb of data, format the 2 used disks and then add them to the array? Will that work?

No, same problem.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: DaCurryman
The reason for the RAID 5 array is to allow for a little redundancy so if any single drive were to die, I wouldnt lose everything. If the whole system dies, then I'm outta luck, but I can't possible backup 1TB.

Maybe you'd be better off just forgetting the RAID array. If the data isn't critical, then you can just set up individual drives and take your chances. Use the leftover drive (that you would have used for the parity drive space) and make backups of the stuff that IS important.

While redundant RAID is nice to have, remember that RAID arrays ARE much more complex than non-RAID. There's a significant chance of having RAID-related problems that you wouldn't have if you didn't have a RAID array. The risk of RAID problems may be nearly as large as the risk of just using separate drives and taking your chances of losing a single drive and the (non-backed-up) content on that single drive. Especially since you are using a software array. And recovery and management is MUCH more complex with RAID than without (as you are discovering).

As you point out, if you just leave the drives separate, your worst nightmare is losing 1/6 of your files. If your RAID fails and you have no backup, you'll lose it all.

 

[Smilin]

That's a good point.

Why not just JBOD a third disk on for 600gig, then use the other three as another array and mirror over to it. Once your 600gig fills up you can break the second array and move a drive over to the first for 800gig etc..