how to migrate RAID5 disks from DL380 G1 to DL380 G6

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maxdrive

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Feb 20, 2013
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Hello,
I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on the process of migrating RAID5 disks from one server to a new version of the same DL family. I have read about a couple of options:

1- software route: take ghost image of the G1 server
-create new array on target G6 server
-Restore ghost image (using BartPE boot disk)

2-Hardware route:
-plug hard drives from G1 in same order on G6 and restart server. Most newer RAID controler models would recognize the RAID from the disks and would prompt you to go through a wizard.

I like option 1. But when I tried it I couldn't get BartPE/Ghost to work and take a backup because I couldn't find the right RAID driver to inject in it.
Option2 is risky from what I've read and can't afford loosing the data in my existing drives.

I have thought of a new option3 which is to:
- take out one disk at a time from G1 and put in a new disk, then have the server rebuild it.
- Do the same thing for all 4 disks (in the array).
- Then plug the new disks in the target G6 server and reboot.

Let me know if you have any ideas. Can anyone let me know if option3 will work. I realize it'll take longer but it's something I can live with.

Thanks.
 
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neieus
I 2nd PinnHedd's comment. I work in a data center with BL and DL blades and moving drives as long as they are in the same order should be fine but it will depend on the raid controller since it's not the same as the original.
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Pinhedd

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Option 2 should work without issue provided that the RAID controllers come from the same family (they should)
 
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neieus

neieus

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I 2nd PinnHedd's comment. I work in a data center with BL and DL blades and moving drives as long as they are in the same order should be fine but it will depend on the raid controller since it's not the same as the original.
 
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maxdrive

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Feb 20, 2013
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thanks guys. Is there a risk to plugging the drives onto the new array, and being foreign to the G6? I read that the new server should recognize the drive and prompt me to either add them to the array or recreate the array. But I always like to err on the side of caution and would rather like to have a ghost image backup first.
 
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neieus

neieus

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Being that it's foreign there is always a risk but I believe you will be fine unless it ask if you want to create a new array. If it ask that then it's not recognizing the existing one so creating a new one will cause you to lose everything. So if you get that message and stop you should be OK since you haven't committed yourself completely.
 
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maxdrive

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Feb 20, 2013
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I agree with you Neieus. I'll attempt that as a last resort. I have been able to finally create a Ghost boot disk that can see my RAID. I've tried to take an image 3 times now but unfortunately the process hangs about 3-5 mins into the backup. I have to figure this one out I guess. But my hope is that if I can take the backup and restore it on the destination server, that would be much safer.
I don't want to start another thread here about Symantec Ghost here out of respect for the forum rules. But I'm posting the link here for reference if anyone has any ideas.

http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1790512/symantec-ghost-hangs-creating-raid-image-win2003-server.html

thanks
 
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