Re: Need to setup RAID in new hardware upgrade SBS2003

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If you use a new controller, whether on board or discrete, you will need to install the drivers or the system will not boot. With a discrete controller, you can insert the controller in the existing system (assuming a functioning and available slot) and Windows will ask for, or already have, the drivers. Once the drivers are in place you can install the new drives on the controller (or even use the old drive if it allows for after the fact mirroring) and use either an image or the MS approved method of backup and restore.

I have even been known to use an intermediate discrete controller, say a PCI SATA to get my installation from board 1 to board 2. When Windows boots on the controller it knows about it will find all the new hardware and you can then feed it drivers for the new hardware. At that point you can move the image to the new controller and the new hard drives.

The path you are suggesting, of building the base Windows installation on the new on board controller and then blasting back an image to a new set of drives on a new mobo, will, I am afraid, overwrite the newly installed base installation and leave you with the original copy of Windows (SBS) from the old system board that did not include the drivers.

Storage Craft and Acronnis, and maybe others, offer Hardware Independent Restore products that allow you to feed the drivers for the new hardware as you are restoring the image.

I think what you are trying to do involves either that path, or a swing migration, which would get you to the same place with less cost, and with a cleaner system as this method does not bring over the old registry or any of the failed software installs, uninstalls, temp files or any of the other garbage that may be carried in a "previously owned" system, to borrow a metaphor from the automobile industry.

www.sbs-migration.com

--
Larry
Please post the resolution to your
issue so that others may benefit.


"Bazzar" <Bazzar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:059BF8AF-E296-4AF0-BA9C-4A55FF120C3F@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Thanks Larry, much appreciated. I am considering the third option of two
fresh drives, installing RAID as I install Windows SBS 2003 then halt the
install at the first reboot then load on the image. As I said the image is a
fully accessible and operational image, just stick it in and it runs. I would
then be able to use the image to continue if the attempt fails, as you
suggest as well. That was my plan and I was asking for either an opinion of
its likely hood of success or an alternative. The system used to be on RAID.
The old and new are Intel boards but different on board RAID systems so I
couldn't just move it across so since then it has run as a single drive
system. I have talked to Intel engineers and they don't have a solution
although they are considering my proposal to develop one for the future.

I guess I just go to it and try this concept. I am concerned that writing
the image across will destroy the RAID drivers and links to the OS etc. Do
you think that would happen or would the image load on and not interfere? It
will load the OS and root directory etc if I only copy it across and it
should not touch the boot sector etc. If I use the Paragon Disk Copy I
suspect it may dig deeper. Any thoughts or comments on this? I appreciate
your input.

cheers
Barry


"Larry Struckmeyer [SBS-MVP]" wrote:

Hi:

I am assuming here that we are discussing a single controller which can be
either single drives or RAID. The thing is, they use different drivers.

The first pass at establishing RAID1 where the OS is already installed is to
install the driver. If you don't, the system will not restart once the
controller is changed to RAID.

The next most likely is to look to the hardware. Many, but not all, RAID
controllers will allow you to install the second drive after the os is
setup, and then mirror them. In this case, I would ask the hardware
manufacture.

The next most likely is to make an image, remove the known good drive,
install two clean drives, mirror them, and restore the image. If the driver
for the RAID functionality of the controller is installed, the system should
boot. If nothing works, you can put the system back like it was while you
create Plan B.

If you are wanting to purchase a new, or a discrete controller and use the
existing installation, you will need guidance from the manufacture.

--
Larry
Please post the resolution to your
issue so that others may benefit.


"Bazzar" <Bazzar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:70008AA0-F4BF-4EB8-AC90-6293C00147BC@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>I recently upgraded the server motherboard and CPU to newer gear. It was
> RAID1 but in changing I had to keep the installation as some software
> would
> take weeks to get the vendors organised with new security codes etc to
> reinstall. The client can not afford to have that software down that > long.
>
> It now runs on a single hard drive with an image every two days for now
> incase of failure. I want to make it RAID1 again. I could do a full
> reinstall
> but as I said that is not acceptable. I need help with a method to do
> this. I
> have thought to make an image then install SBS2003 up to the first > restart
> then install the image. Trouble is the image is a fully working image > that
> will over write everything already installed. It is Paragon Disk Copy > 8.
> It
> creates a fully working image. I have seen suggestions about using MS
> Backup
> somehow.
>
> Can anyone give me any suggestions? Using Disk Copy or MS Backup or
> anything
> that will allow me to setup RAID1 and then install the current setup
> without
> a full reinstall. Can anyone comment on the partial install and using > the
> image in some way? I am stuck.
>
> Signed - Mr Desperate!!
>



.

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