Raid 0 Controller Switch

[josedawg]

I have a raid 0 array, on a NF7-S mobo with a Silicon Image raid controller. I can no longer boot up the machine (I'm thinking mobo error after a bunch of testing). I have some old vacation pictures on the raid 0 array, that I dont have saved anywhere else. Is there anyway possible to move the raid 0 array to a new machine, with a new raid controller, without losing data?


Summary:
Need to move raid 0 (2x36gb raptors) from NF7-Sv2 SilImage raid controller to DFI NF4 Ultra-D nVidia raid controller.

 

[TerryMathews]

Doubtful. If you can transfer at all, it will be to another Silicon Image RAID controller. Your best bet will be to find an add-in card based on the same chipset as the one integrated on your NF7-S.

This is one of the main reasons to invest in a name-brand RAID controller. Promise, 3ware, (Adaptec, I believe) all have compatability guarantees. I can create, as an example, a 2+0 RAID0 array on a Promse FastTrak66, then unplug it from that controller and plug it into a SuperTrak SX6000 and it will still work. Vice-versa too. The only thing that doesn't work is unsupported RAID configurations for a given controller (RAID5 on that FastTrak66, for example).

 

[Googer]

I hope there is a lesson leared here for all those who prase RAID-0. Never expect to ever recover the data you store on your ARRAY. Always have an independant internal/external drive hold important doucuments and photographs and keep them backed up on two DVD/CD's then put one of the CD's in a safe deposit box or a location away from home.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: josedawg
I have a raid 0 array, on a NF7-S mobo with a Silicon Image raid controller. I can no longer boot up the machine (I'm thinking mobo error after a bunch of testing). I have some old vacation pictures on the raid 0 array, that I dont have saved anywhere else. Is there anyway possible to move the raid 0 array to a new machine, with a new raid controller, without losing data?


Summary:
Need to move raid 0 (2x36gb raptors) from NF7-Sv2 SilImage raid controller to DFI NF4 Ultra-D nVidia raid controller.

Your best bet is to go out and buy a 1394 based HDD and copy them all to it, Google's Picasa works well for this. Or you could buy a cheap 160GB IDE/SATA drive and keep it installed in your new PC. Partition the new 160GB in to Two Partitions: One partition 90GB for RAID 0 backup's using Dantz Retrospect and the rest of it should be used for Photographs and important stuff. Idealy you should buy two 160GB (or larger) drives and keep your backup volume running in RAID-1. Along side the RAID 0 array. Do not run RAID 0+1 or you will find your self in the same situation later.

RAID-0: 36GB Raptors
RAID-1: Two 7K160GB Hitachi , 7200.8 Seagate, Samsung, Western Digital, or Maxtor.

 

[josedawg]

Thanks for the info Googer, but I dont see how that solution offers me any form of recovering my data. I already have a file server on my network, which does backups for all of my machines, and important data already gets backed up from the server about once every 2 weeks or so on dvd's. My NF7-S' PSU blew up on me about a year ago (which probably caused the mobo error to begin with), and it just stood around collecting dust until now. At the time it blew up, I had yet to save the essential files from my comp to my file server. I was hoping for a cheap (free) way on solving this, but if my only choice is to buy another same mobo/raid controller, than I guess that's what I'll have to do.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: josedawgbut if my only choice is to buy another same mobo/raid controller, than I guess that's what I'll have to do.

It is. Personally, I'd recommend (if you plan on continuing to use RAID) buying a Silicon Image controller from somewhere you can return it, back up the data you need to, then return it and buy a Promise or 3ware card. Then you won't be in this mess again.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: josedawg
Thanks for the info Googer, but I dont see how that solution offers me any form of recovering my data. I already have a file server on my network, which does backups for all of my machines, and important data already gets backed up from the server about once every 2 weeks or so on dvd's. My NF7-S' PSU blew up on me about a year ago (which probably caused the mobo error to begin with), and it just stood around collecting dust until now. At the time it blew up, I had yet to save the essential files from my comp to my file server. I was hoping for a cheap (free) way on solving this, but if my only choice is to buy another same mobo/raid controller, than I guess that's what I'll have to do.

I thought you stil had the drives installed in your old machine. I did not realize that you had already removed them.

 

[josedawg]

They havent been moved yet, but the mobo has issues so I dont see how your solution helps me at all. Maybe I'm just not reading it right, even though I've reread it numerous times. Good news is a friend of mine has same mobo and willing to help me out.

 

[Googer]

Originally posted by: josedawg
They havent been moved yet, but the mobo has issues so I dont see how your solution helps me at all. Maybe I'm just not reading it right, even though I've reread it numerous times. Good news is a friend of mine has same mobo and willing to help me out.

Perfect!

 

[RebateMonger]

As suggested above, if you think you might ever want to move a RAID array from one motherboard to another, the best way is to use a hardware RAID card. For RAID 0 or 1, inexpensive cards work just like the chips on motherboards. But you can pick up the card and the RAID'ed drives and pop them into a new PC without losing the array.