Rebuild RAID array

Arclight · 08-21-09, 03:17 PM

Internal bays are filled up. Was thinking about getting a new HD and put that external, but then figured I could also move the most active, noisiest stuff (RAID array) external. Plenty of enclosures that can fit 2 drives.

The question is, if I get an enclosure with a RAID controller, will I be able to rebuild the array without losing data?

Probably makes more sense to use 1 or 2 mobile racks.

VipertheSniper · 08-22-09, 07:49 AM

I've never used a raid array, but from the stuff I've read it could be difficult to rebuild the array without losing data with another controller.

longam · 08-22-09, 02:49 PM

If you get an enclosure that simply holds the drives and uses a port for each drive then it would be the same as if they were inside. Just use the same sata ports you had them hooked to on the MB internally.

I use one of these at work for back and its nice when you can hot swap the drives.

They also have port multiplier models that only need one eSATA port and it multiplies for all drives in the case. But it wasn't what I needed.

http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44xt.asp

Arclight · 08-22-09, 06:34 PM

I've had a look at just about every solution possible; seems to me I'm better of with mobile racks.

No ****ty chipsets interfering with performance, and no possible horror story because the thing causes your drive to overheat.

Thanks for the input, I learned to avoid external enclosures like the plague.

08-21-09, 03:17 PM	#1
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Internal bays are filled up. Was thinking about getting a new HD and put that external, but then figured I could also move the most active, noisiest stuff (RAID array) external. Plenty of enclosures that can fit 2 drives. The question is, if I get an enclosure with a RAID controller, will I be able to rebuild the array without losing data? Probably makes more sense to use 1 or 2 mobile racks. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

08-22-09, 06:34 PM	#4
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	I've had a look at just about every solution possible; seems to me I'm better of with mobile racks. No ***ty chipsets interfering with performance, and no possible horror story because the thing causes your drive to overheat. Thanks for the input, I learned to avoid external enclosures like the plague. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.*

08-22-09, 07:49 AM	#2
VipertheSniper Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Austria Posts: 1,072 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've never used a raid array, but from the stuff I've read it could be difficult to rebuild the array without losing data with another controller.

08-22-09, 02:49 PM	#3
longam Admiral Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 2,014 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	If you get an enclosure that simply holds the drives and uses a port for each drive then it would be the same as if they were inside. Just use the same sata ports you had them hooked to on the MB internally. I use one of these at work for back and its nice when you can hot swap the drives. They also have port multiplier models that only need one eSATA port and it multiplies for all drives in the case. But it wasn't what I needed. http://www.pc-pitstop.com/sata_enclosures/scsat44xt.asp