Re: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system

Hi Kevan,

Thank for your update! There are some things need to clarify with you.

> hard disks setup as hardware RAID 1. This is supposed to increase SBS
> performance by up to 30%.
That goal normally complete by hardware RAID 1. To do that you need buy
RAID cards. That is easy to buy. In initial response I thought you have
setup hardware RAID1, so I give you that info.

Generally software RAID will consume CPU, using raid can not increase the
SBS server speed. If you want to setup software RAID1 you can refer to the
following KB article to do:
302969 How To Mirror the System and Boot Partition (RAID1) in Windows Server
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=302969

The Diskpart utility is not the best tool to setup system and boot
partition. You can use it to Optimize Storage for Exchange Server 2003 and
so on.

If you have any further concern or question about the issue please feel
free to let me know. I am always to be further assistance!

Have a nice day!

Best Regards,

Jenny Wu
Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
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======================================================
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

--------------------
>Thread-Topic: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system
>thread-index: AcWcOV1nq0UBbkupRmSUR9owtOIUFQ==
>X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 24.82.106.246
>From: =?Utf-8?B?a2V2YW5o?= <kevanh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>References: <B6BD7F47-B33E-4BE6-B92D-F02E518C243E@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<ep0s2sWmFHA.3572@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<vCi2TDZmFHA.3120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<59362653-E264-458F-9707-8A6EA30CA31C@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
<FU3n5aBnFHA.588@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: Re: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system
>Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 09:51:04 -0700
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>X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
>
>Hi Jenny, thanks for the info
>I was not specific enough in my last response.
>I wanted to know if after removing the partitions & rebooting the system
>with some sort of system disk. Running the utility: what is the command
>options syntax as well as what offset do I choose - that part in the
>instructions are vague.
>Thanks
>Kevan
>
>
>""Jenny wu [MSFT]"" wrote:
>
>> Hi Kevan,
>>
>> Thanks for you update.
>>
>> I am sorry for the delayed response due to weekend. Please understand
that
>> the newsgroups are staffed weekdays by Microsoft Support professionals
to
>> answer your systems and applications questions. Your understanding is
>> greatly appreciated!
>>
>> Yes, you are right. What is your concern? RAID 1 can be setup by
software
>> and hardware. Which method you want to?
>>
>> For hardware, you should contact you hard disk manufacture for
resolution.
>>
>> Microsoft provides RAID 1 based on software method. You can refer to the
>> following KB article to do:
>>
>> 302969 How To Mirror the System and Boot Partition (RAID1) in Windows
Server
>> http://support.microsoft.com/?id=302969
>>
>> Hope above information helps. If you have any further concern or
question
>> about the issue please feel free to let me know. I am always be further
>> assistance!
>>
>> Have a nice day!
>>
>> Best Regards,
>>
>> Jenny Wu
>> Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support
>> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>> ======================================================
>> This newsgroup only focuses on SBS technical issues. If you have issues
>> regarding other Microsoft products, you'd better post in the
corresponding
>> newsgroups so that they can be resolved in an efficient and timely
manner.
>> You can locate the newsgroup here:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx
>>
>> When opening a new thread via the web interface, we recommend you check
the
>> "Notify me of replies" box to receive e-mail notifications when there
are
>> any updates in your thread. When responding to posts via your
newsreader,
>> please "Reply to Group" so that others may learn and benefit from your
>> issue.
>>
>> Microsoft engineers can only focus on one issue per thread. Although we
>> provide other information for your reference, we recommend you post
>> different incidents in different threads to keep the thread clean. In
doing
>> so, it will ensure your issues are resolved in a timely manner.
>>
>> For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft CSS directly.
Please
>> check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.
>>
>> Any input or comments in this thread are highly appreciated.
>> ======================================================
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights.
>>
>> --------------------
>> >Thread-Topic: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system
>> >thread-index: AcWa4Ad98fsQhGV1TxCrthUhOBLVJw==
>> >X-WBNR-Posting-Host: 24.82.106.246
>> >From: =?Utf-8?B?a2V2YW5o?= <kevanh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >References: <B6BD7F47-B33E-4BE6-B92D-F02E518C243E@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> <ep0s2sWmFHA.3572@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> <vCi2TDZmFHA.3120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >Subject: Re: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system
>> >Date: Sat, 6 Aug 2005 16:39:03 -0700
>> >Lines: 161
>> >Message-ID: <59362653-E264-458F-9707-8A6EA30CA31C@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >MIME-Version: 1.0
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>> > charset="Utf-8"
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>> >Xref: TK2MSFTNGXA01.phx.gbl microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs:142056
>> >X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
>> >
>> >Thank you for the details.
>> >The documentation seems to suggest that this utility will not be run on
>> the
>> >system partition but a separate drive or extended artition. it makes no
>> >reference to making a boot disk to run on the disk with no partotions.
>> >I enclose the instartuctions:
>> >
>> >To use DiskPar to align a hard disk, perform the following steps.
>> >a. Backup all data on your hard disk, and then delete all partitions.
>> >b. At a command prompt, type diskpar -s <drive number> and then confirm
>> that
>> >you want to partition the disk.
>> >c. Type a new starting offset and the partition size for this hard
disk.
>> >Because Exchange writes data in 4 KB blocks, the value you type for
>> starting
>> >offset must be a multiple of 4 KB.
>> >d. After DiskPar aligns the disk, at a command prompt, type diskpar -i
>> ><drive number> to verify that the disk is aligned correctly.
>> >e. Use Disk Manager to format your hard disk. Configure the partition
to
>> use
>> >NTFS and to use an allocation unit size of 4096 (4 KB).
>> >f. Using DiskPar improves disk performance by creating a sector aligned
>> disk
>> >partition. Prior to using DiskPar, be sure to back up all data that you
>> want
>> >to keep. DiskPar is part of the Windows 2000 Resource Kit. For more
>> >information about using Diskpar.exe, see Microsoft Windows 2000
Resource
>> Kit
>> >Tools Help.
>> >
>> >
>> >""Jenny wu [MSFT]"" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Hi Kevan,
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for posting here. Also thank you Jason's input.
>> >>
>> >> For your description, I understand that you want to find a disk
utility
>> to
>> >> do disk alignment. If I am off base, pleas don't hesitate to let me
know.
>> >>
>> >> A. as Jason said, you can use Diskpart.exe Disk Partition to meet
your
>> >> needs. Windows Server 2003. Diskpart is a Operating system tool which
>> >> includes a few 64-bit parameters that are only available on
>> Itanium-based
>> >> computers. Diskpart.exe works on both FAT and NTFS volumes.
>> >>
>> >> Command-line tool that allows you to manage disks and partitions by
>> using
>> >> scripts or direct input from a command prompt. Diskpart locates and
>> >> consolidates fragmented boot files, data files, and folders on local
or
>> >> remote volumes.
>> >>
>> >> You can refer to the following link to how to use the command line:
>> >> Command-Line References
>> >>
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/library/TechR
>> >> ef/1a249f1e-6320-44c8-adf5-8dfd3f31852c.mspx
>> >>
>> >> More info about the Diskpart utility:
>> >> Optimizing Storage for Exchange Server 2003
>> >>
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/library/optimizes
>> >> torage.mspx
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> B. The Microsoft Windows 2000 DiskPart utility enables storage
>> >> configuration from a script, remote session, or other command prompt.
>> >> DiskPart augments the Disk Administrator graphical user interface.
>> >>
>> >> DiskPart differs from many command-line utilities in that it does not
>> >> operate in a single line mode. Instead, the utility is first invoked
and
>> >> then commands are read from standard IO. Commands can be directed to
any
>> >> disk, partition, or volume.
>> >>
>> >> You can down load the utility in the following link:
>> >>
>>
http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/techinfo/reskit/tools/new/diskpart-o.as
>> >> p
>> >>
>> >> More info:
>> >> New Diskpart.exe commands to reset volume attribute flags on failed
>> >> snapshot volumes in Windows Server 2003
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;840781
>> >>
>> >> You receive an error message when you use the Diskpart.exe
command-line
>> >> tool to perform storage management on a Windows Server 2003-based
>> computer
>> >> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;870912
>> >>
>> >> Hope above information help! If you have any further question and
>> concern
>> >> please feel free to let me know. We are always happy of be assistance
of
>> >> you.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Have a nice day!
>> >>
>> >> Best Regards,
>> >>
>> >> Jenny Wu
>> >> Microsoft CSS Online Newsgroup Support
>> >> Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security
>> >> ======================================================
>> >> This newsgroup only focuses on SBS technical issues. If you have
issues
>> >> regarding other Microsoft products, you'd better post in the
>> corresponding
>> >> newsgroups so that they can be resolved in an efficient and timely
>> manner.
>> >> You can locate the newsgroup here:
>> >> http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/en-us/default.aspx
>> >>
>> >> When opening a new thread via the web interface, we recommend you
check
>> the
>> >> "Notify me of replies" box to receive e-mail notifications when there
>> are
>> >> any updates in your thread. When responding to posts via your
>> newsreader,
>> >> please "Reply to Group" so that others may learn and benefit from
your
>> >> issue.
>> >>
>> >> Microsoft engineers can only focus on one issue per thread. Although
we
>> >> provide other information for your reference, we recommend you post
>> >> different incidents in different threads to keep the thread clean. In
>> doing
>> >> so, it will ensure your issues are resolved in a timely manner.
>> >>
>> >> For urgent issues, you may want to contact Microsoft CSS directly.
>> Please
>> >> check http://support.microsoft.com for regional support phone numbers.
>> >>
>> >> Any input or comments in this thread are highly appreciated.
>> >> ======================================================
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> rights.
>> >>
>> >> --------------------
>> >> >From: "Jason Miller" <jason@xxxxxxxxx>
>> >> >References: <B6BD7F47-B33E-4BE6-B92D-F02E518C243E@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >> >Subject: Re: Disk Utility to align tracks on a hardware RAID1 system
>> >> >Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 22:10:17 -0500
>> >> >Lines: 24
>> >> >X-Priority: 3
>> >> >X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
>> >> >X-Newsreader: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180
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>> >> >X-RFC2646: Format=Flowed; Original
>> >> >Message-ID: <ep0s2sWmFHA.3572@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> >> >Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
>> >> >NNTP-Posting-Host: s01060004ace57cd8.wp.shawcable.net 24.79.95.217
>> >> >Path: TK2MSFTNGXA01.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP08.phx.gbl!TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl
>> >> >Xref: TK2MSFTNGXA01.phx.gbl
microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs:141718
>> >> >X-Tomcat-NG: microsoft.public.windows.server.sbs
>> >> >
>> >> >You are referring to DiskPar.exe (windows 2000 version). I believe
the
>> >> 2003
>> >> >version of the tool is called DiskPart.exe.
>> >> >
>> >>
>>
>http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/exchange/2003/library/optimize
>> >> storage.mspx
>> >> >
>> >> >Cheers,
>> >> >
>> >> >Jason
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >"kevanh" <kevanh@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>> >> >news:B6BD7F47-B33E-4BE6-B92D-F02E518C243E@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> >> >>I am looking for a utility that I was told would align the tracks
on 2
>> >> SATA
>> >> >> hard disks setup as hardware RAID 1. This is supposed to increase
SBS
>> >> >> performance by up to 30%. This tool was mentioned to be in the
>> Windows
>> >> >> 2000
>> >> >> resource kit.
>> >> >> So far I have not found it....
>> >> >> Anyone know!
>> >> >> Thanks
>> >> >> Kevan
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>>
>>
>

.

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