[dba-Tech] Going to Raid - Win2K

My sympathies, John.  I was at risk of a similar situation (story too long),
and decided to go RAID1 while I still had time.

I approached the issue from much the same standpoint as you - apprehensive
ignorance!  Running WinXP Pro, I had the choice between software and
hardware RAID; I chose hardware, wanting to save CPU time and also trusting
Adaptec's technology in this area above Microsoft's.  I bought an
appropriate Adaptec card and followed the instructions.  They seemed to
cover all the eventualities, my confidence returned and the rest was a
breeze.  Can't remember the details now, but I was using SATA, so they
wouldn't be strictly relevant.

I know nothing of Highpoint RocketRaid, so can't help there.

HTH
John


> -----Original Message-----
> From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com 
> [mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of 
> John W. Colby
> Sent: 15 May 2004 05:44
> To: Tech - Database Advisors Inc.; AccessD
> Subject: [dba-Tech] Going to Raid - Win2K
> 
> 
> Folks,
> 
> About 6 months ago my less than one year old Maxtor 120g hard 
> drive bit the dust.  I replaced it with an old 40g drive I 
> had laying around and a 160g drive.  I had intended to just 
> replace it with a 160g but quickly discovered that Win2K 
> doesn't natively support large hard disks until you get SP3 
> or better installed and manually edit the registry.  Thus the 
> old 40g to get
> Windows up, then the 160g set up.   That 40g drive failed 
> this week.  In
> both cases my C: drive (partition) was lost.  Backups simply 
> aren't the end all and be all in a case like this because of 
> all the programs and individualized settings for each program 
> - the registry etc.
> 
> What I have learned from this is that the lost productivity 
> was roughly 2-3 days per incident, waaaay more than the delta 
> cost of Raid 1.  I have decided not to go through that again. 
>  I am now researching a Raid 1 solution (simple mirror) using 
> a pair of Maxtor 120g drives.  This gives me 40g for the 
> system partition (drive c:) and 80g for my dev stuff, web dev etc.
> 
> My current choice for controller (I do have $ limits to face) 
> is a Highpoint RocketRaid 133.  In order to get back up 
> before the weekend I went down to Staples and plunked down 
> the $ for a Maxtor 6y120P0 120g 8mb buffer hard disk.  My 
> intention at this point is to order a matching drive and the 
> raid controller from www.Egghead.com and when I get it, set 
> up the mirror.  I have a couple of questions though for 
> anyone who may have experience in this.
> 
> 1) I have already partitioned the new drive and installed 
> Win2K Pro, Office and other programs.  Once I get the 
> controller, can I just unplug this disk from my motherboard, 
> plug it in to the raid controller, plug the matching drive 
> in, and tell something to "set up the mirror"?  I.e. the new 
> drive gets the exact same partitions (there are three of 
> them) created, files written, and I'm up and running mirrored?
> 
> 2) If not am I facing a reinstall of everything again?
> 
> 3) Is there anything I need to know?  I just want it to work 
> - I am not a
> (trained) system admin, I am a developer working in a SOHO.
> 
> The idea is to get my dev system set up so that all of my 
> installed software and development stuff never again die 
> because a disk dies.  I have found and read a bunch of 
> articles on raid in general but can't find any detailed 
> information on the PROCESS of setting the thing up, and 
> specifically with this controller.  I assume the 
> documentation with the controller will tell me most of what I 
> need to know, but of course.... what can go wrong will.
> 
> Any comments or suggestions appreciated.
> 
> John W. Colby
> 
> 
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