Upgrading RAID array with different HD

markrb12

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Aug 30, 2006
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I have an Adaptec Raid controller card with 3, 2TB drives in a RAID 5 (I know many people hate RAID 5, but it works for me) and I need to increase capacity. Normally I would just add another drive and that would be it, but there is a problem. They don't make the drive anymore. I am using Hitachi/Seagate (same drive just different label) 5900RPM drives. I can get a 7200 RPM drive, but I am not sure about issues.
At this time I am considering if I have to go 7200 RPM why don't I change over to 3tb drives while I am at it. Another potential issue, I can't afford these drives at once and would have to buy over time.

So my questions are would any of these conditions cause issues with my RAID with the understanding that the RAID moves at the speed of the slowest drive and has the capacity of the smallest?

Thanks,
Mark
 
Solution
Adding different manufacturers not an issue, so long as rpm/cache is the same, adding a larger drive will result in it running at the lowest size of the raid array.

SO you can replace small drivers over a time period, only issue comes when all of them have been replaced you will need to backup, recreate the array and then restore the data to reclaim the unused space.
Adding different manufacturers not an issue, so long as rpm/cache is the same, adding a larger drive will result in it running at the lowest size of the raid array.

SO you can replace small drivers over a time period, only issue comes when all of them have been replaced you will need to backup, recreate the array and then restore the data to reclaim the unused space.
 
Solution

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