Data Storage Upgrade Questions

4eak · Mar 11, 2011, 11:42 PM

I've got got a RAID5 setup with this:

RAID Controller: 3ware 9650SE-8LPML KIT PCI Express x4 SATA II (3.0Gb/s)
8 x 500gb hard drives

The 3.18 TB that the RAID gives me is almost used up (it filled up VERY quickly). I'm may need to upgrade my capacity soon.

A few questions:

Even though there wouldn't be a performance difference (for many reasons), is it at least possible to use SATA 6.0Gb/s hard drives with my RAID controller?

Let's assume I bought 8x2TB drives, what would be the best way to transfer the data on my current 8x500gb drives onto the new drives? (assuming factors of safety of the data, inexpensiveness, and being easy enough for a novice like me)

I'm guessing that if I had other hard drives laying around, I could copy the data to these spares from my current 500gb-based RAID, uninstall the 500gb drives and install the 2TB drives, do whatever config I need to do, and then push the data back on to new RAID using my spare hard drives. Just in case that doesn't work, I'll still have my 500gb hard drives with the RAID still intact. Eh, messy.

Obviously, I'm a novice. What should I do?

peace,
4eak

BlueMak · Mar 12, 2011, 01:06 AM

Well, the last part sounds good to me.
Or are you saying you can't do that?
From what I understand you have connected the drives to the controller but yu don't actually have any RAID eh level? Just a bunch of disks, right? If yes, then just remove two of the drives. Plug in two of the new drives. copy all the files to them. Remove the old drives and place back the two remaining old drives. Finish the copying procedure and then remove them and put back inside the rest of the new drives.

At least in theory. I have zero experience with separate RAID controllers.

In fact, just forget what I just said and wait for someone with better knowledge to help you. One will be here soon enough.

Matth · Mar 14, 2011, 08:40 PM

Pretty sure that 6 Gb/s SATA devices are backward compatible, SATA is always SUPPOSED to be backward compatible, though there have been instances where it doesn't happen automatically (most commonly, the need to link-set drives for SATA 1, for controller where the autonegotiation doesn't work).

I'd say, maybe, that you'd have to backup, with compression, and with luck get everything onto one 2TB non-raid, then build the set from the other 2TB drives and transfer to it, before wiping the transfer drive and adding it as a hot spare.

Mar 11, 2011, 11:42 PM	#1
4eak HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0 System Specs	Data Storage Upgrade Questions I've got got a RAID5 setup with this: RAID Controller: 3ware 9650SE-8LPML KIT PCI Express x4 SATA II (3.0Gb/s) 8 x 500gb hard drives The 3.18 TB that the RAID gives me is almost used up (it filled up VERY quickly). I'm may need to upgrade my capacity soon. A few questions: Even though there wouldn't be a performance difference (for many reasons), is it at least possible to use SATA 6.0Gb/s hard drives with my RAID controller? Let's assume I bought 8x2TB drives, what would be the best way to transfer the data on my current 8x500gb drives onto the new drives? (assuming factors of safety of the data, inexpensiveness, and being easy enough for a novice like me) I'm guessing that if I had other hard drives laying around, I could copy the data to these spares from my current 500gb-based RAID, uninstall the 500gb drives and install the 2TB drives, do whatever config I need to do, and then push the data back on to new RAID using my spare hard drives. Just in case that doesn't work, I'll still have my 500gb hard drives with the RAID still intact. Eh, messy. Obviously, I'm a novice. What should I do? peace, 4eak

Mar 12, 2011, 01:06 AM	#2
BlueMak HH's Asteroids' Dominator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Hellas->Macedonia->Thessaloniki Posts: 13,465 Rep Power: 349 System Specs	Re: Data Storage Upgrade Questions Well, the last part sounds good to me. Or are you saying you can't do that? From what I understand you have connected the drives to the controller but yu don't actually have any RAID eh level? Just a bunch of disks, right? If yes, then just remove two of the drives. Plug in two of the new drives. copy all the files to them. Remove the old drives and place back the two remaining old drives. Finish the copying procedure and then remove them and put back inside the rest of the new drives. At least in theory. I have zero experience with separate RAID controllers. In fact, just forget what I just said and wait for someone with better knowledge to help you. One will be here soon enough. __________________ The people who are regarded as moral luminaries are those who forego ordinary pleasures themselves and find compensation in interfering with the pleasures of others(Bertrand Russell)"You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn't wear a veil,You know, guys like that ain't got no manhood left anyway. So it's a hell of a lot of fun to shoot them." - Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis This is slavery, not to speak one's thought. [Euripides-The Phoenician Women (c.411-409 B.C.)] http://www.macedonia.info/FALLACIESANDFACTS.htm *Sic semper tyrannis.*

Mar 14, 2011, 08:40 PM	#3
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Re: Data Storage Upgrade Questions Pretty sure that 6 Gb/s SATA devices are backward compatible, SATA is always SUPPOSED to be backward compatible, though there have been instances where it doesn't happen automatically (most commonly, the need to link-set drives for SATA 1, for controller where the autonegotiation doesn't work). I'd say, maybe, that you'd have to backup, with compression, and with luck get everything onto one 2TB non-raid, then build the set from the other 2TB drives and transfer to it, before wiping the transfer drive and adding it as a hot spare. __________________ Mary had a little lamb, Her father shot it dead Now Mary takes her lamb to school, Between two crusts of bread