How to Expand/Extend Raid 5 Array or Partition in Windows?

Common demands of Raid 5 expansion

• I have a Highpoint Rocket RAID 454 for Windows XP SP2 and 2000 SP4 (+Rollup). One array is RAID-5 with 3 disks and I would like to add another disk to this array. I know I can add a new disk if the array is broken but how would I "expand" an existing (working) array without data loss?
• I have ML 350 G5 Server with 3 Hard disk currently configure RAID 5.My Question is here：Can I add New Hard Disk without destroying my current data and OS if so? What is the utility I am going to use?
• I've got a Compaq ML370G2 with 3 drives in a RAID5 array connected to a 5i controller. How do I go about adding a 4th drive to the array? Is there an application like in NetWare (cpqonlin.nlm) to do this?

Have you ever come across such kind of problem and cases that the Raid is out of space? Generally, the purpose of expanding Raid 5 partition is to maximize the performance of server computers by having more disk space on Raid 5.

Can Raid 5 be extended or expanded?

Unless the highpoint controller supports a Raid expansion feature - there isn't any direct method for you to expand Raid 5 array.

The only other way is to first backup data on Raid 5. Then delete the 3 drive array and re-create it as a 4 drive array. Restore the data to the new larger Raid 5 array and you're good to go.

Note if you add a disk that's larger than the other disks, it will be resized to match the capacity of the others. In other words, if you have 3 80 GB disks and add a 160 GB disk you will only be able to use 80 GB of the 160 in your new configuration. The remainder will be unusable.

Solution to extend/expand Raid 5 array

Here, we would like to provide solutions for both two conditions that you may come across to expand the Raid 5 array:

Firstly, if your Raid controller supports a Raid array expansion feature, it is more convenient and easy with third party Raid array partition software. Insert a new hard disk to the existing hardware Raid and organize this Raid using Raid controller. Then there is some unallocated space on this Raid. Install the Raid partition software and then resize the Raid partition with the unallocated space. For more details, please refer to: How to resize/extend Raid 5 array in a safe way?

Secondly, if your Raid controller doesn't support a Raid expansion feature, the only but safest way to extend Raid 5 array is to backup all data to a safe place, like an external hard drive and then break the Raid array, connect the new disk to computer and recombine the Raid 5 array by using the Raid controller with all the disks you want to utilize. Here we recommend both Raid 5 copy software.

and Raid 5 array backup freeware

to help you copy or backup Raid 5 array. Please refer to: How to copy your Raid 5 array? or How to backup Raid 5 array? for more details.

Related Articles:

• Is It Possible to Resize RAID?
• Easiest and Safest Solution to Repartition RAID 5 on Windows Server
• Server Partition Manager to Manage your Windows Server in an Easier Way