August 16th, 2010 | 
Author:
I have this problem of space with the HDD on the server. I have 3×36 GB right now (RAID 5), and I am planning to upgrade to 3×300 GB (RAID 5) and use it as a file server. I will be deploying a backup and archive server for the same but that’s a different story.
What I am looking at some kind of solution that I can easily remove the old hard disks and plug in the new one all the data software and settings are on the new hard disks.
Guys your input will be a real help to me…
Sorry forgot to mention it was preloaded with Win2k3 standard server.
If I were u, if would rather backup my data to an external USB drive first. Then replace all the old drives with the new drives, setup the RAID, then install a fresh copy of the Win2K3 and all the other softwares. Then configure the server as a file server and other purposes.
In short, a freshly baked piece of pizza, no overnight bacon on top of it.
It is really painstaking but it frees you from hidden problem from ur old drives, which could save you nights of OT.
I can see ur problem is in the OS, which was pre-installed. Aside from being pre-installed, do you have the OS installation disc with you? if not, u should at least have the recovery disc, if not either, then you should find a way to got the disc first.
Another one is how to setup the RAID-5 prior to the OS. You should dig further into this topic.
One advantage of my way of upgrading is that when you failed the installation, you still have a chance to put back all your old drives and restore the server to its original status. That could give you enough time to analyze the failure, play around with the new drives, and schedule another upgrade sometimes later, but not immediately.
Posted in hdd backup software
norton ghost …just copy the old hdd on the new hdd with norton ghost…makes a replica of your old hdd…just plug your new hdd and your ready 2 go
good luck
References :
Get a Program like Maxtor or any other file transfer(OP system) Xp does it too, Do it one new Hard drive at the time Just copy the entire Disc (old) to the new,remove and then the next etc.Install all in the right order and there you go.
I hope !
Take care!
References :
If I were u, if would rather backup my data to an external USB drive first. Then replace all the old drives with the new drives, setup the RAID, then install a fresh copy of the Win2K3 and all the other softwares. Then configure the server as a file server and other purposes.
In short, a freshly baked piece of pizza, no overnight bacon on top of it.
It is really painstaking but it frees you from hidden problem from ur old drives, which could save you nights of OT.
I can see ur problem is in the OS, which was pre-installed. Aside from being pre-installed, do you have the OS installation disc with you? if not, u should at least have the recovery disc, if not either, then you should find a way to got the disc first.
Another one is how to setup the RAID-5 prior to the OS. You should dig further into this topic.
One advantage of my way of upgrading is that when you failed the installation, you still have a chance to put back all your old drives and restore the server to its original status. That could give you enough time to analyze the failure, play around with the new drives, and schedule another upgrade sometimes later, but not immediately.
References :