Using Server 2003 built in RAID Software

=Installing RAID=

You can download the RAID Setup Guide (346kb).

Note: These instructions for systems that have not been previously RAID and the second hard drive is NOT configured.


 * 1) Connect both hard drives to the server
 * 2) Boot from Server 2003 CD
 * 3) Do not install RAID drivers until after installation
 * 4) If you have both drives plugged into the computer, you will see drives when Server asks where it should install. Select the first drive.
 * 5) Use NTFS file format (to save time you can use NTFS Quick Format)
 * 6) After the system installs files and reboots, select the language and keyboard format, input Name and MS Key,
 * 7) Licensing Modes – Select Per Device or Per User [[Image:RAID-1.png|none|300px]]
 * 8) After your first log in, Server may ask you to format the second drive. Do NOT format now.  Click cancel.
 * 9) Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management.
 * 10) Right click on the primary drive (Disk 0) > Convert to Dynamic Disk [[Image:RAID-2.png|none|300px]]
 * 11) Only select Disk 0 [[Image:RAID-3.png|none|300px]]
 * 12) The next screen lists the disk you will convert > Click Convert
 * 13) Are you sure you want to convert? > Yes
 * 14) File systems will be dismounted. Do you want to continue? > Yes
 * 15) To complete the conversion process, the computer will now restart > OK
 * 16) After reboot, start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management
 * 17) Right click Disk 1 > Convert to Dynamic Disk [[Image:RAID-4.png|none|300px]]
 * 18) Make sure Disk 1 box is checked > OK
 * 19) Right Click the white rectangle labeled (C:), to the right of Disk 0 > Add Mirror [[Image:RAID-5.png|none|300px]]
 * 20) Select a location for a mirror of C: > Click Disk 1 > Add Mirror [[Image:RAID-6.png|none|300px]]
 * 21) An error message will pop up. “Logical Disk Manager . . .”  Ignore the error> OK.  Disk 0 and Disk 1 will begin mirroring/resynching [[Image:RAID-7.png|none|300px]]
 * 22) When the resynching finishes, both Disk 0 and Disk 1 will seen as drive C: [[Image:RAID-8.png|none|300px]]
 * 23) The drives are now mirrored, which is a kind of RAID. You may need to reboot.
 * 24) To test the RAID is working. Shutdown the computer.  Remove the primary drive.
 * 25) Reboot the computer. To verify the drive status: Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management.  One of the disks will be listed as missing.
 * 26) Shutdown computer. Install missing drive.  Reboot computer.
 * 27) Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management
 * 28) Disk 0 and Disk 1 should be resynching

=Replacing a Failed Hard Drive=  Return to Microsoft Operating Systems Return to Main Page
 * 1) Turn off computer. Remove old drive.  Install new drive.  Reboot computer
 * 2) Start > Administrative Tools > Computer Management > Disk Management. This will launch the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard > Next
 * 3) Initialize the disk. Make sure Disk 1 is checked > Next [[Image:RAID-9.png|none|300px]]
 * 4) Select the disk to convert. Make sure Disk 1 is checked > Next [[Image:RAID-10.png|none|300px]]
 * 5) The wizard will finish. You have successfully completed the Initialize and Convert Disk Wizard > Finish
 * 6) The Disk Management will now show 3 disks. Disk 0, Disk 1 and Missing [[Image:RAID-11.png|none|300px]]
 * 7) Remove the original, dead drive from the disk management list. To the right of the Missing box, right click white rectangle > Remove Mirror [[Image:RAID-12.png|none|300px]]
 * 8) Select the Missing disk to remove the mirror > Click Remove Mirror [[Image:RAID-13.png|none|300px]]
 * 9) Are you sure you want to remove the mirror? > Yes
 * 10) You will get an error message “Logical Disk Manager could not update . . .” Ignore this error > Click OK
 * 11) The Missing disk will still be listed but now the rectangle next to it will not be white. It will be empty. [[Image:RAID-14.png|none|300px]]
 * 12) Right click white rectangle (C:) next to the Disk 0 box > Add Mirror [[Image:RAID-15.png|none|300px]]
 * 13) Add Mirror. Click Disk 1 > Add Mirror [[Image:RAID-16.png|none|300px]]
 * 14) An error message will pop up. “Logical Disk Manager . . .”  Ignore the error> OK.  Disk 0 and Disk 1 will begin mirroring/resynching [[Image:RAID-17.png|none|300px]]
 * 15) Once the resynching finishes, the RAID will be restored.