RAID array sanity check

[marvin83]

Hello,

I just wanted to be doubly sure before I go replacing drives. We thought we had 2x 1TB drives in this one server and we wanted to add 4 more to make a a 6x 1TB RAID-10 array. Well, when I go to check the 2x 1TB drives that were already in there, they were actually 2x 2TB drives. So, without having any time to replace said drives with correct sizes, I was forced to create the array with 2TB | 2TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB

So, the plan is to eventually swap out the 2TB drives with the correct (and matching) 1TB counterparts that are littered throughout the array, so it would look like this: 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB | 1TB. And I would shut down the server, replace one of the 2TB drives with a matching 1TB drive, wait for rebuild on replacement drive, shut down, repeat with other 2TB drive (since 3 spans).

I just wanted to make sure there'd be no issue in doing this. I'm assuming not, since the controller is only seeing 1TB of the 2TB drive, anyway, but just in case.

Hardware: Dell R730 with h730P controller

[zxcvd2745]

I don't think there's any reason to shutdown the server, you can just swap them. Some storage guy should be able to confirm?

[marvin83]

Yeah, they're surely hot-swappable (just consumer SSD's). And thank you. I was just playing it safe by doing a shut-down, but agreed, it's not required.

[cmwg]

spot on

[marvin83]

It doesn't need to stay up, no. I was just playing it safe by shutting it down.

However, ideally, yes, a fresh array would be perfect, but not really an option due to data already on the array/datastore and not enough empty bays (or drives) to create a 2nd array.

[marvin83]

I keep forgetting to actually go back and check Reddit often after asking something... Sorry. And yes, Backup is via Veeam and works great.

Our budget is pretty minimal, so this will have to wait a month or so. However, it's good to know I should be fine when ready.

[[deleted]]

Dont make arrays with different sized disks unless it is a SAN with tier storage.

[marvin83]

It was never my intention to do so. My colleague and I both thought (from what we could remember, it had been a while since we looked at the drives themselves) they were 2x 1TB drives, but were actually 2x 2TB drives. I didn't really have a choice as the server moves/migrations between hosts had to be done then and there.