Re: Raid Rotation as Backupstrategy

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yes, I've simply popped one member of a mirrored set before performing major
maintenance. Really handy if they are hotswappable drives.

Simple rules to avoid being bitten.
Restart the server and inspect the logs (and yes, a friend of mine knows how
many times I've missed this step only to be bitten by it).
Inspect the status of the RAID array (no good popping a drive if it's not in
sync).


"IT PHYTOSAN" <ITPHYTOSAN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:3D43C9AF-40CD-48B5-867C-8794FF5B7022@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thank you, that is very encouraging. Would you propose shutting down the
machine prior to step 1 or is this not required? Would you consider doing
this with just two disks running on one while performing the upgrade and
keeping the other as fallback?

Thanks a lot

IT PHYTOSAN

"Frank McCallister SBS MVP" wrote:

I have used this for years for major in place upgrades where i was in
doubt
of outcome and it has saved my bacon on several occasions. BE SURE you
know
what you are doing with your RAID controller and only do it with hardware
Raid. Also be sure you have a real Total Backup as well.

--
Frank McCallister SBS MVP
MCP Microsoft Small Business Specialist
COMPUMAC
"IT PHYTOSAN" <ITPHYTOSAN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:BA37FDD0-34A0-4BC7-92BB-FF7A5EE8CC74@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
We are running a raid 1 setup. We are thinking if we could use raid as
an
auxiliary (not prinicpal) backup strategy prior to installation, update
or
configuration work to have a painless fallback in case anything goes
wrong.
The procedure would be the following:

1. Prior to installation work, retire one of the two raid disks and
replace
it with a new one. (This may happen with the machine off)

2. Wait for both disks to be synchronized.

3. Perform installation, update, configuration

4. If everything performs to spec leave current configuration.

5. If fallback is needed, shutdown machine, remove both disks, replace
one
with safeguarded one, startup on that disk, once up and running insert
other
disk and synchronize.

I'd appreciate your opinion wether this is good (or even common)
practice
or
wether there are any considerations that I am not aware off.

regards

IT PHYTOSAN







.

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