Remove a Disk from Raid 5 Array (using RST)

[RB8]

Hi guys,

I'm currently using RST to manage a raid array i am setting up, I didn't have 3 spare disks the same size when i started so i used 2 3TB disk and 1 500GB drive to initialize the raid 5 array so i could copy data off another larger disk and then i could add that disk to the array later. That worked ok, I copied the data off the 1TB drive to the raid volume and then added the 4th disk to the array. Now i want to remove the 500GB disk and expand it so that i can do the same thing with another 2TB disk i want to add to the array.

I've unplugged the 500GB disk and its showing the array as Degraded and the disk as missing but i can't see how i can remove this disk completely from the array?

[Jose_H_Intel1]

Hello Nitro52, what you see on screen is fine. You may go ahead and replace the drive with the new one. Then, boot into Windows* and choose "Rebuild" within Intel® Rapid Storage Technology.

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-020670.htm Intel� Rapid Storage Technology (Intel� RST); User guides

[RB8]

Ah i don't know if i made that clear but i don't actually have a spare disk to replace the 4th 500GB drive i removed. Not until i can copy data off it. Hence the reason i need to drop it down to a 3disk raid array, copy all the data off it and then add that disk to the array.

[Jose_H_Intel1]

I guess I did not fully understand your request above.

These are the supported RAID migrations:

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-020674.htm Intel� Rapid Storage Technology (Intel� RST); Supported RAID migrations

Otherwise, in order to rebuild a RAID 5 only one drive of the original members can be absent.

[RB8]

Ok so where exactly can i find out what version controller hub i am using, I've looked under windows msinfo32, the bios, raid bios and in the RSS windows app's System Report and can't see exactly what version i am using.

I'm using the on board Raid from my Gigabyte P67A-UD3R-B3 motherboard if that helps.

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3764# sp GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 1155 - GA-P67A-UD3R-B3 (rev. 1.1)

[Jose_H_Intel1]

It is Intel® ICH10R/DO/PCH Controller Hub

[JMael]

Hi Nitro,

Simplest would seem like this i'd say:

1. Connect your large drive which you want to add to the system (without adding to the raid)
2. Copy over all of your data from the drive you wish to add to the raid array
3. Remove the smaller drive which you wish to replace
4. Add the large drive to the raid array
5. rebuild the raid array