Yep, just as Sid said.
Hot spare = Holy ****! A drive failed! Quick, use the spare! Use the spare!
Hot spare is
NOT "We need more space, add it in!"
Your options are:
A) As Sid say, get a NAS and use that for extra space.
B) Add another RAID array (and another RAID controller if need be) and use that for extra space.
C) Backup the data, put new drives in place, and restore the data.
Option A is far less intrusive on your end-users. Option B requires some downtime (an after-hours job, most likely). Option C requires A LOT of downtime (again, after-business hours) and some precision to pull off correctly.
Easiest way to pull off Option C is to clone the partitions on the RAID array to a network share or a large enough hard drive to hold it all. Once they're cloned, swap your drives, recreate your array, and then push the clone back to the new array. To do this, you'll need:
a) Windows PE 3.0:
http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,87312.0.html b) Symantec Ghost Solution Suite 2.5 (and, in particular, Ghost32.exe and Ghostexp.exe from it)
c) 32-bit Windows 7 RAID drivers for your RAID controller (yes, Windows 7, since PE 3.0 is based on it).
d) New drives (obviously)
1) Boot into PE 3.0, and if you injected the RAID controller drivers properly (4-Drivers.bat should help you with this) and copied Ghost32.exe to the CD or the X: drive (the RAM drive for PE), then PE will see the array.
2) Type
ghost32.exe at the PE command prompt and then press Enter. Ghost will launch.
3) Select Local -> Partition ->
To Image -> select where you want to save the image. Call the image something that makes it easy to identify (like C-partition.gho or something). Let it clone.
4) Repeat #3 for any other partitions on your RAID array if necessary. If you only had one partition, skip this step.
5) Use another computer with ghostexp.exe (Ghost Explorer) on it and make
ABSOLUTE CERTAIN your images have all your data!!!!. Alternatively, if you injected ghostexp.exe into your PE disc, you can launch it from PE and check your images' integrity.
6) Turn off your server and switch out your old drives for bigger ones.
7) Power back on, and create your RAID array using whatever utilities available for your controller. You probably won't be able to make an array larger than 1.7 TB (and I highly suggest you don't even try--otherwise, this whole operation will go bust and you'll be a very angry network administrator).
Boot back into Windows PE 3.0.
9) Type in
diskpart at the command prompt.
10) Type
list disk and press Enter to see what's available.
11) Type
select disk 0 (or whatever disk number represents your RAID array) and press Enter.
12) Type
create partition primary size=xxxxx (fill in the X's with whatever size you want the first partition to be in MB) and press Enter. If you only had one partition on your old array, then leave off
size=xxxxx--this will force the partition to consume the remaining space on the array.
13) Type
active to set that as the active partition. Press Enter.
14) Type
assign letter c to assign letter C to that partition. Press Enter. If drive letter C is not available, then you may have to change the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive or any other drives attached first.
15) Type
format fs=ntfs quick to format the partition using NTFS and to do it quickly (you don't want to wait all day). Press Enter.
16) If you had a second partition on your old array, type
create partition primary size=xxxxx again to create a second partition if necessary. If all you are going to have is two partitions, then simply leave off the
size=xxxxx part and the partition will use up the rest of the available space. Press Enter.
17) Repeat Steps 14 and 15 for your second partition, substituting the appropriate drive letter for your second partition (i.e.: use
assign letter d, for example).
18) If you have additional partitions, repeat Steps 16 and 17, making appropriate substitutions.
19) Type
exit to get out of DISKPART.
20) Fire up ghost32.exe again, and this time, Local -> Partition ->
From Image. Select where you saved the image from your old array's first partition.
21) Select the first partition you created on your new array. Click OK when asked to overwrite the partition.
22) Repeat Steps 20-21 for your other partitions, if any.
23) When finished, type
exit to get out of PE, remove the CD, and restart your server. If all goes well, your server will boot back up in the exact state that it was in plus significantly more disk space on your partitions! You will have to reboot after you log in the first time, as the New Hardware Wizard will detect the new drives and will want to restart your server, so don't give everyone the green light to get back in yet!
24) After reboot, test out your server, and pat yourself on the back for a job well done!
