Scenarios

RAID level migration is a process of converting one RAID configuration to another. RAID controller cards support RAID level migration as the data volume and number of hard drives increase in the system.

You can perform RAID level migration on the Configuration Utility. Typically, an array is reconfigured with the same or more storage capacity. Sometimes, additional drives are added.

Impact on the System

If a hard drive fault occurs during RAID level migration, the following will occur:

• If a faulty hard drive exists and the RAID array does not contain redundant data (for example, a faulty hard drive exists during RAID 0 level migration), the RAID array fails.
• If a faulty hard drive exists and the RAID array still contains redundant data (for example, a faulty hard drive exists during RAID 1 level migration), the migration continues. When the migration is complete, replace the faulty hard drive and rebuild the RAID array.

Perform RAID level migration with caution.

Prerequisites

Conditions

The following conditions must be met before you migrate a RAID level:

• You have logged in to the server through a remote virtual console and can manage the server on a real-time basis.
• The current number of hard drives meets the requirements of the target RAID level.
• You have accessed the Configuration Utility main screen. For details, see Logging In to the Configuration Utility.

LSI SAS2208 controller cards support the following RAID level migration modes:

• Migrate RAID 0 to RAID 1, 5, or 6.
• Migrate RAID 1 to RAID 0, 5, or 6.
• Migrate RAID 5 to RAID 0 or 6.
• Migrate RAID 6 to RAID 0 or 5.
• If a RAID array contains two or more VDs, it does not support RAID level migration.

Table 4-46 lists the minimum numbers of hard drives to be added for RAID level migration.

Data

You have backed up data on hard drives.

Procedure

1. On the left of the Configuration Utility main screen, select Virtual Drives.

   The virtual drive selection screen is displayed.

   Figure 4-162 Virtual drive selection screen
   
2. Select Properties and click Go.

   The virtual drive property screen is displayed.

   Figure 4-163 Virtual drive properties
   
3. Select Adv Opers under Operations, and click Go.

   The capacity expansion screen is displayed.

   Figure 4-164 Adding hard drives to a RAID array
   
4. Select a method for RAID level migration and click Go.
   • To perform RAID level migration without adding hard drives, select Change RAID Level and choose the target RAID level from the drop-down list box below.
   • To perform RAID level migration with hard drives added, select Change RAID Level and Add Drive and choose hard drives from the area below and the target RAID level from the drop-down list box above.
5. Click Home to go back to the Configuration Utility main screen.
6. On the right of the Configuration Utility main screen, view the RAID configuration and check the RAID level migration result.

   The duration required for RAID level migration varies depending on the data volume in the RAID array. Wait for a moment if the data volume is large.