HELP! Calculating drive space

[JTalbot017]

I am trying to calculate the drive spae on a file server. Currently there are 3 - 18.2gb drives in the bays. I have no idea what RAID we are using, but I assume it is RAID 5. Using the "(n-1)/n" formula, I get that each drive has 12.1gb usable space. Here is my problem: the current total space on the logical drives doesn't add up:

C: = 24.2gb
D: = 9.76gb

I can't figure out the math. I need to get this figured out quick because I need to calculate what an expansion of 2 more 18.2gb drives will do to the total available space on each logical drive.

 

[boonality]

That actually sounds sorta close.

you can expect 3 18GB drives in RAID 5 to be "roughly" 36GB, 24.xx and 9.xx come damn close, given other factors I'd say that to be correct.

But if you add 2 additional physical drives your either going to have to rebuild a new RAID array or create a mirror or something as an additional physical drive.

 

[JTalbot017]

So, can you designate specific space for logical drives then?

 

[boonality]

yup

 

[JTalbot017]

How is that done ? I have no clue how to have 1 array and designate specific space. All the materials I have read designate logical drives over specific hard drives but don't split the individual hard drive space up.

 

[boonality]

?? You currently have this config

HDD0
HDD1
HDD2

This is approx 36GB of space, which has been divided into 2 logical drives, one 25GB, and the other 10GB

Do you have a rack mount server? If you do then when you put the 2 additional drives in you have the option of making them stand alone, RAID 1, RAID 0. And anything else im forgetting? don't think so.

Lets say you make them a RAID 1, then you will have 18GB of drive space available, you can put as many logical drives you want on there, just use the disk management in windows.

I don't understand your questions.. so i need you to answer this

1. What type of computer are you using? home built/dell rack mount, IBM or HP blade?

2. What are you TRYING to do?

 

[MadHacker]

[url=http://support.wdc.com/download/">J

 

[JTalbot017]

I am still confused on how you can create two logical drives in only 1 array. I am truly at a loss with trying to do this. Overall, I am trying to increase drive capacity in each logical drive. They are both below the 20% free space recommendation. We are using an HP tower server (an old one). I am trying to get the server above 20% to last for at least a year until new servers are approved.

 

[boonality]

oh, you need a 3rd party drive partioner to do that.

 

[JTalbot017]

Thanks!