Re: Adding a disk to a RAID array

I know that this is a RH list and all, but you might try some of the BSD 
flavors as regards raid and security in general. http://www.freebsd.org



>From: "Elizabeth R Martin" <[email protected]>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: [email protected]
>Subject: Re: Adding a disk to a RAID array
>Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 15:41:17 -0600
>
>Stewart,
>
>Unfortunately, this solution creates a whole different set of issues.  
>Because
>of the sensitive nature, defined by other people than myself and higher up 
>the
>food chain, the security issues that I have with the one box would then
>propagate to the new one thus doubling the headaches I already have with 
>the
>first box.  Lets just say that in the near future I have to move the box 
>from
>my server room to a special secure area in to the "Fort Knox" room two 
>floors
>below me.
>
>Elizabeth Martin
>
>"Stewart M. Ives" wrote:
>
> > Elizabeth,
> >
> > I'm going to tell you the same thing I said before.
> >
> > Put 2 cheap BIG (100+GB) IDE drives in the box.  Let Linux do the RAID 
>for
> > you, software RAID.  Once this is up, move all the data from the old 
>data
> > partition over to the new dataNEW partition.  Rename the old partition 
>to
> > dataOLD and rename the new partition from dataNEW to data.  There.  
>Problem
> > solved.
> >
> > One last thing.  For backup, put a BIG IDE drive in another cheap cheap
> > cheap old old old system unit, load linux on it, put it on the network, 
>and
> > do your backups first to this sytem and then to tape.  Then you will
> > basically have on-line backup in the event of a data drive failure or
> > someone deleted that oh-so-important file (probably their resume).
> >
> > Good luck.
> >
> > stew
> >
> > [email protected] wrote:
> > > Bill,
> > >
> > > Yeah, that is what I was hoping for.  I wish I was lucky enough to be
> > > able to have the funds to have another system that I could test the
> > > process out on.  However, being a state funded institution most funds
> > > go to medical research and education and I get what's left over and
> > > have to do the best I can with that.  Unfortunately the data
> > > partition is what I need raided the most.  Research data and faculty
> > > teaching information is contained there.  I have people who freak out
> > > big time when there is a network problem and can't access the box -
> > > they are banging at my door wanting to make sure that their data
> > > hasn't been lost.  Looks like I am going to have to take a whole new
> > > look at the process of what I need to do.  I may even plan upgrading
> > > to RH8 and upgrading the RAID controller card to one recommended by
> > > Adaptec to replace the one I have as well as replacing the drives
> > > with larger ones even though I have 4 matched drives already and hope
> > > I can get the funds.  Like I need all of this headache with all I am
> > > being required to do now in order to get all of my systems compliant
> > > with Federal and State regulations like HIPAA etc.  I am going to
> > > have to lock myself in my office to plan out the next couple of
> > > months just to keep current with the have to do's.
> > >
> > > Elizabeth Martin
> > >
> > > Bill Gradwohl wrote:
> > >
> > >> So you are trying to expand an existing array. Lots of older
> > >> controllers had no way to expand an existing array. Those that did
> > >> claim to do so failed under many conditions. Very recent controllers
> > >> are much improved, but that's not a description of DPT.
> > >>
> > >> You are more trusting than I am. Candidly, even if I had the manual
> > >> in hand I wouldn't try to expand a RAID array on a production box
> > >> unless I could test it out first on the EXACT same hardware in a
> > >> test environment.
> > >>
> > >> Have you considered, and does the controller BIOS support, just
> > >> adding a non RAID drive to the controller and using it all by itself
> > >> in a non RAID fashion? Even that is risky because you don't know
> > >> what the controllers BIOS will do with it. I had one controller
> > >> (can't remember which, but it was IDE) step on the array at boot up.
> > >> No chance to take evasive action.
> > >>
> > >> If you are running SCSI drives, does that also mean you have a
> > >> second controller for a tape drive? Not a second channel, but a
> > >> whole new controller that's already in the same box. How about
> > >> spinning that drive up on the separate controller.
> > >>
> > >> As you can see, I'm trying to do anything but touch the array
> > >> because what the books say will work many times don't.
> > >>
> > >> Bill Gradwohl
> > >> [email protected]
> > >> (817) 224-9400 x211
> > >> www.ycc.com
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________




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><< Elizabeth.R.Martin.vcf >>


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