Restoring a RAID-1 Array

[GordonM]

As noted in thread http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ucf/vi ... ?f=3&t=548, I have set up a RAID-1 array on the machine that I use as a server (Mail, VPN, Web etc). I obviously want this machine to be reliable and be able to recover from drive failures quickly (an hour or two at most). The RAID-1 array should help to achieve this, but I also want to be able to image the array and be able to restore the image. As I understand it, as long as the BIOS can see the RAID composite drive, IFW (or BING for that matter) should be able to image the drive. However, what about restoring? If I need to restore, will I need to have a RAID array in place or could I restore the RAID array's image to a single drive (of adequate size), whether it is IDE/PATA or SATA? My guess is that all these restore configuarations would work, though I am not sure.

Am I correct?

Thank you

GordonM

[TeraByte Support]

Once you setup your RAID configuration of the drives (firmware/hardware
type) the drives look like just one drive and treated as such, the firmware
(BIOS or driver) or controller hides the actual drive configuration. So
there is nothing special needed for the view of the drive, the only thing
that can cause problems is if you move to another RAID controller which
requires drivers you don't already have installed in Windows. This is
because they (T13/T10) never came up with a RAID standard (too much
infighting among the chipset/device makers - they should try it again
sometime) like they did for IDE (ATA) and AHCI. You can install a RAID
driver after the fact using OSDTOOL.TBS script in the TBOSDT Professional
package included with Image for Windows.

"GordonM" wrote in message news:2647@public.image...

As noted in thread

[
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=548
](http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/ucf/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=548)

, I have set up a RAID-1 array on the machine that I use as a server (Mail,
VPN, Web etc). I obviously want this machine to be reliable and be able to
recover from drive failures quickly (an hour or two at most). The RAID-1
array should help to achieve this, but I also want to be able to image the
array and be able to restore the image. As I understand it, as long as the
BIOS can see the RAID composite drive, IFW (or BING for that matter) should
be able to image the drive. However, what about restoring? If I need to
restore, will I need to have a RAID array in place or could I restore the
RAID array's image to a single drive (of adequate size), whether it is
IDE/PATA or SATA? My guess is that all these restore configuarations would
work, though I am not sure.

Am I correct?

Thank you

GordonM

[GordonM]

Thanks TBS. I don't expect to be changing computers/RAID controllers any time soon, so this should be straightforward.

I'll try restoring to a single drive to satisfy myself there are no problems, so that I am ready when there is a real failure!

GordonM