Setting up Raid1 in Server 2003

[wnied]

Hey everyone

I just set up a small server computer for my brother to play with. I have it set up so that the root drive is seperate from the raid1 set up. The raid is set up with an adaptec 1233 pCI raid card, and has two 250GB drives connected to it. I can see the RAID controller in the hardware device manager, and it is recognized and working. I've just never set up a RAID1 on a computer before, and I dont know how to get it recognized by the operating system. Everything is working, but again, I cannot see the RAID in Windows explorer. I can only see the root drive with the OS installed. Can someone help me out as to how to get Windows to see the RAID setup so that I can begin loading data to it?

All help is appreciated
~wnied~

 

[RebateMonger]

If you are seeing the RAID controller in Device Manager, then the drivers are loaded for it. At that point, assuming that you've been in the RAID controller's BIOS and created a RAID 1 array, then you should just be able to go into the DISK Management panel and initialize, partition, and format the RAID array.

 

[wnied]

Actually I am a total RAID newb. I didnt even know you had to go into the BIOS to do any of that I just aqssumed u could go thru windows OS.... I dont even think I know how to get into the raid card BIOS.

Any ideas?

 

[RebateMonger]

Well, there ARE some Windows appliations that can be used to set up non-boot RAID arrays. It depends on the maker of the RAID chipset. When you boot your PC, you should see a message from the RAID chipset, mentioning a key combinations (such as Ctrl-M) to jump into the RAID BIOS where you can configure an array of drives attached to the RAID controller.

 

[Nothinman]

Actually I am a total RAID newb. I didnt even know you had to go into the BIOS to do any of that I just aqssumed u could go thru windows OS.... I dont even think I know how to get into the raid card BIOS.

If it's a real RAID card it'll have a BIOS that you can use to manipulate the arrays. Usually you have to at least setup the array that'll hold the OS here before doing anything else. Sometimes they also come with management software that you can run in the OS after it's installed, but not always.

If you go with sofware RAID that'll all be done in the OS, of course.

 

[MedicBob]

The BIOS they are speak of is not the main BIOS. On screen there should be a screen describing what keys to press to get into the Adaptec card BIOS. It should come up right after the POST but before Windows loads.

 

[wnied]

Ok so if I get this right, I have to get into the Raid card through the raid card BIOS. Once in there I can set up the Raid Array into a Raid1 set up. As mentioned before I have two 250gb hard drives connected to the Adaptec ASH-1233 PCI Raid card. These drives are seperate from the root drive holding the Operating system.

I will give that a whirl and let you know how I make out.
~wnied~

 

[MedicBob]

After you get it setup in the Adaptec BIOS go to Computer Management and format it. It will show up as 1 drive, if I remember right, but the mirroring is being done by the card and not Windows.

 

[wnied]

Thanks much to all. The BIOS wasnt one that allowed you to get into it. I was able to go through computer management and mirror the disks. My brother now has his first server with a RAID array to play with. Thanks to everyone for their input

~wnied~

 

[Nothinman]

I was able to go through computer management and mirror the disks.

That's Windows software RAID.

 

[wnied]

I realize its windows software raid...is there any difference?

 

[Nothinman]

I realize its windows software raid...is there any difference?

That's like asking if there's any difference between a Ford and Chevy. They're both cars but made by completely different companies.

If you use hardware RAID the RAID will be handled completely by the card and the OS will just see a single drive and not know the difference so you're at the mercy of the card and it's drivers. If you use software RAID the OS will be managing the RAID so you're at the mercy of Windows and it's RAID drivers.

 

[RebateMonger]

You aren't using the Adaptec RAID card at all, other than as a simple SATA controller. I had a client who'd done that. The Adaptec drivers for THEIR controller were horrible and even Adaptec claimed they were't suitable for a business environment. If a drive glitched at all, a bug in the Adaptec driver would cause their server to reboot itself with no record in the Event logs and no memory dump. It was the worst of both worlds.

 

[wnied]

Thanks RebateMonger

This isnt going to be holding anything significant data-wise. Its basically a set up so my brother can play with it to get aquainted with a basic Windows Server 2003 setup. The raid was set up because we found the pci raid card in a closet, and had two IDE 250GB drives sitting around. So I placed the OS on a seperate drive, and created the most basic RAID container with it. I know its not much, but it gives him something to practice installing the OS on and configuring AD. What I would eventually like to do is get a copy of Microsoft exchange server 2003 and set that up as well on another box, so he can have them interact and such...just cant seem to find a cheap way of getting ahold of the OS as of yet. The easiest way to describe what I want to do is to build a basic miniature copy of a business network so he knows what he can expect to encounter when he graduates school and begins to look for a job. ( He's certifying in Cisco and Microsoft while in high school.)

Thanks to everyone for their input.
~wnied~