Expanding Arrays and Logical Drives in HP ML/DL servers using Array Management Utility

So i have to expand a 0+1 array with new disks, i have 6 disks already in there totaling about 410Gb, i need to add 2 new 146Gb disks.

Step 1

BACKUP!!!!!!!

Even the easiest jobs can go wrong sometimes.

Step 2

Install the 2 new disks into the free slots of the 8 slot drive bay (Comes with the ML350).

Step 3

Open up the Array Configuration Utility located HP Management tools in the start menu.

Step 4

Select the Array Card and the array that you are Expanding, in here you should notice the you will see the arrays that you have configured aswell as Free Space which is the total of the new disks you have.

Highlight the array you want to expand the Click on Expand Array.  This will give you a wizard, Click Begin.  From the next screen you will be asked to select the drives to add to the array, in my case i had matching 146Gb drives which after the expansion i would have 8 146Gb drives in a 0+1 Array.  So select the disks that you want to add to the array and Click NEXT.  Click Finish to Save the changes.  The controller now reconfigures the array so that it is using all the new disks.

Keep in mind that the system was up and runnign during this expansion but it was done out of hours so there was no need for me to shut the system down.

This process took me 4.5 - 5 hours to complete, so go home and wait till later.  I was able to remote in a check the systems progress.

Step 5

After you have expanded the array not much seems to change, that because you havent done anything with the free space we now need to Extending the Logical Drive.

Click on Extend Logical Drive, and click the drive you want to extend, next select the new size of the drive the is being extended and click finish to save changes.

This part didnt take very long i dont think, but its still got a counted and progress bar so keep an eye on it.

Step 6

After that process has finished we have finished using the Array Configuration Utility so we can close that.  Next thing is to Extend the Volume within windows.

Right mouse click on "computer" and click on Manage now depending on yr operating system you will need to find Disk Management.  Find the drive the you have expanded and extend in the HPACU and right click on the partition and select Extend Volume.

One thing to make note of is that windows wont allow you to extend a system volume so if you have done this to a system volume then you will need to image that drive extend it outside of windows and then reimage the drive, unless someone has a better idea?  I would LOVE to hear it because i hate exteneding system partitions, i like shit thats easy.

haha FYI heres the HP ACU User Manual

-Fr33ze