RAID question

[imported_slyadams]

I am looking to buy a WD raptor with a view in the future to adding a 2nd for some RAID fun (can't really afford 2 right now). Can I buy one now, build my system onto it, and then at some point in the future plug a 2nd one in and have the RAID controller build the array (i.e. distribute half the data across to the new disk)? Or will I need to wipe both disks and start again?

 

[ch33zw1z]

That will not work w/ RAID 0 to my knowledge. You will have to start from scratch.

 

[imported_slyadams]

*sniff*

 

[Madwand1]

It can be done with some RAID implementations, but you need to pick the implementation, and check its details for yourself.

 

[imported_slyadams]

I figured that high end controllers could probably do it.

 

[j00fek]

if you have a JBOD array you can add hdd's to it

 

[nineball9]

If you have a 3rd drive, either internal or external, you could image your system on to it when you want to go to RAID-0, install the 2nd drive, build the RAID array and reload the image. This works with True Image and the versions of Ghost I've used.

Of course you'll need a 3rd drive (which is a good idea for backup purposes later) but may be beyond your finances. You could use optical media instead of a 3rd drive on which to create an image but it will take forever.

 

[imported_slyadams]

I have a number of hard drives in the system. I might end up doing that: install onto 1st drive, wait until I get second drive, take image of first, add 2nd and restore image onto RAID.