Adding More Storage With A RAID 1 Array

[Farrar]

I have a Dell 8400 which has a RAID 1 array composed of two, 160GB hard drives. My system board shows 1 IDE controller {which has my DVD player and DVD burner connected} and 4 SATA controllers. I have searched through my Dell documentation and found litte info. Pasted below is my "Intel Storage Utility" report.

How might I add more space?

Thanks,

Jeff Farrar
-----------------------------------------------------

System Information

Kit Installed: 4.0.0.6211
Kit Install History: 4.0.0.6211
Shell Version: 4.0.0.6211
String Load Library: 4.0.0.6211
WMI Interface Library: 4.0.0.6211

OS Name: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Version: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
System Name: D90SKR51
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: 0J3492
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
BIOS Version/Date: Dell Inc. A02, 08/23/2004

Language: ENU



Intel(R) RAID Technology

RAID Option ROM Version: 4.0.0.6211
Driver Version: 4.0.0.6211
RAID Plug-In Version: 4.0.0.6211
RAID Plug-In Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
Create Volume Wizard Version: 4.0.0.6211
Create Volume Wizard Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
Create Volume from Existing Hard Drive Wizard Version: 4.0.0.6211
Create Volume from Existing Hard Drive Wizard Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
Modify Volume Wizard Version: 4.0.0.6211
Modify Volume Wizard Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
Delete Volume Wizard Version: 4.0.0.6211
Delete Volume Wizard Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
RAID ISM Library Version: 4.0.0.6211
Device IO Library Version: 4.0.0.6211
Event Monitor User Notification Tool Version: 4.0.0.6211
Event Monitor User Notification Tool Language Resource Version: 4.0.0.6211
Event Monitor Version: 4.0.0.6211

Array 0
Status: No active migration(s)
Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 298.1 GB
Free Space: 0 GB
Number of Hard Drives: 2
Hard Drive Member 1: ST3160023AS
Hard Drive Member 2: ST3160023AS
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: ARRAY

Volume 0
Status: Normal
System Volume: Yes
Write Cache Enabled: Yes
RAID Level: RAID 1 (mirroring)
Size: 149 GB
Number of Hard Drives: 2
Hard Drive Member 1: ST3160023AS
Hard Drive Member 2: ST3160023AS
Parent Array: Array 0

Found 1 Event(s)

Event 0
Time Stamp: 0x1C4A78CC0F2DC60
Function Code of Request: 0xFF
Unsuccessful Retries: 0
Error Code: 0x2
Additional User Info: 0x1


Hard Drive 0
Usage: Array member
Status: Normal
Device Port: 0
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 1
Model: ST3160023AS
Serial Number: 3JS40GL3
Firmware: 8.05
Native Command Queuing Support: No
System Hard Drive: No
Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 149 GB
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: ARRAY
Parent Array: Array 0

Hard Drive 1
Usage: Array member
Status: Normal
Device Port: 2
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 1
Model: ST3160023AS
Serial Number: 3JS40K5C
Firmware: 8.05
Native Command Queuing Support: No
System Hard Drive: No
Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 149 GB
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: ARRAY
Parent Array: Array 0

[Gabriel]

Hi Farrar,
IMHO there are two ways that you can extend the RAID's capacity:
1 - the easy (short) and bad way - you can simply attach additional SATA or IDE drive to the computer and extend the volume to it (using disk administrator - create a dynamic disks which its data spans more than one storage device). This is bad - it works slowe and you loose the Redundancy factor.
2 - the hard (long) and good way - purchase larger SATA disks (I see your raid is constructed from two identical Seagate SATA disks). Image the data on the raid container to an external hard drive (i recommend on ghost). replace the disks inside the computer (with the two disks you purchased). Restore image to the newly created container.

P.s. I know that you can image the data "directly" from one raid to another but this is a more "risky" way. better take the longer and safer path.

P.s. #2 Raid 01 is usually slower on write and faster on read than a standalone drive.

Good Luck,
Gabriel