Extend win2k server partition on PDC

[blubomber]

The system partition on my main domain controller needs to be expanded. The server is a Compaq proliant DL360 with 2 18GB hard drives that are mirrored. When the admin before me set it up, he did a system partition that was 4GB and created a secondary partition that is 12 GB. The system partition is down to under 1GB of free space. With the constant stream of patches and things coming out, i want to expand this partition for future needs.

I am guessing that a third party utility like partition magic will be the way to go. Are there any other suggestions or comments?

Thank you for any help.

[rpertusio]

A RAID 1 setup (mirror) is unsupported by Partition Magic. It can only support RAID 0 (striped) and RAID 5 (striped w/ parity).



However, I would think it is possible to break apart the RAID 1 (First, backup your data!), and then you'd essentially be left with a non-RAID setup. (right?) Then, resize the partitions. Lastly, re-establish the mirror (RAID 1) setup.

Alternately, you could pop another drive into the server (if you have a spare, and some room to put it in), then create the partitions you desire, and copy the data over.

Or, lastly, you could 'back up' the data on your current drives, destroy the drive's partitions, re-create them, and then restore the backup to the new partition setup.

Any of these options could cause considerable downtime while you do them, and it's important to have good backups! Messing with drives is always a risky thing to do.

Those are just my suggestions/ideas. I haven't had to do this on a DL360 (yet)

- rp

[herura]

The simplest and saftest way is to break the mirror, perform the resize on the primary disk and once you have established that it is working correctly re-enable the mirror.
I have done this on several different models of Compaq, but not the DL360, so I cannot say for certain that it will work but is should.

rpertusio is correct that you should back up any user data, including your emergency repair disk, before you try it.

Good Luck

[John Prophet]

Be careful though as far as ghosting etc...I ghosted a win2k server thing once and it didnt work..then I had people tell me it wouldnt work....possibly cuz it was a domain controller....Im not sure of the specifics but I thought Id just throw it out to you (to confuse you more!)

[blubomber]

Thank you for the replies.

I am a little hesitant to start from scratch by backing up and then deleting the partitions and redoing it all. The server is the root domain controller. It is the DC that the domain was originaly configured on. I seem to recall that microsoft suggests that this server not be tampered with for risk of loosing the entire domain, since it was the server the domain was configured on.

Oh, and it is also the DHCP server for the domain. There is also a child domain involved. I may just leave things as they are for now to avoid causing some big problems.

Thanks again.