Software RAID to hardware RAID, can it be done?

Posted by gtaylor85 on Server Fault See other posts from Server Fault or by gtaylor85
Published on 2011-06-20T15:44:02Z Indexed on 2011/06/20 16:25 UTC
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Filed under:

raid

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software-raid

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hardware-raid

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best-practices

Can it be done ... well.

(For the record, I did not set this server up.)

In my server there are 4 disks. 3 of them are in a software RAID5, and 1 has the OS installed. I want to buy a RAID controller, 4 new HDs and set up a hardware RAID5. If possible, I'd like to just image the current setup, and use it to build my new one.

My questions are: Can I image a 3 disk RAID5 to 4 disk RAID5? Are there problems with this? What is considered best practice for your OS. To have it on a separate disk like it currently is, or to install it on the RAID5?

Thank you. I can clarify anything. I'm not sure what other info might be pertinent.

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