How to resize RAID partition without data loss?
Because of the advantages of hardware RAID arrays, many server runs hardware RAID such as RAID 1 and RAID 5. However, the same with physical hard disk, RAID arrays also runs out of space especially when you use RAID for Operating System and services. The fastest way to solve this problem is resizing RAID volume with server partition software. In this article, I’ll introduce how to resize RAID partition without reinstalling Windows or losing data.
What is RAID?
RAID – which stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks, or sometimes alternatively Redundant Array of Independent Disk – is a technology that employs the simultaneous use of two or more hard disk drives to achieve greater levels of performance, reliability, and/or larger data volume sizes. It is used for computer data storage schemes that can divide and replicate data among multiple hard disk drives. Two major design goals of RAID are: increased data reliability and increased input/output performance.
There are various combinations of these approaches giving different trade-offs of protection against data loss, capacity, and speed, including RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 2, RAID 3, RAID 4, RAID5, RAID 6, and RAID 10 (1+0). Among them, RAID levels 0, 1, and 5 are the most commonly found, and cover most requirements.
A hardware implementation of RAID requires at least a special-purpose RAID controller. You may use the tools from the manufacturer of your RAID controller to reconfigure the array. With that RAID controller, you are able to resize RAID partition. Resizing RAID partition with partition software can ease the process.
Difference between hardware RAID and physical disk
In short: the advantages, data read and write performance are realized by the raid controller. Hard disk is directly controlled by the Operating System. However as a storage device, after RAID was created, the virtual drives are the same with physical disk partitions to Windows.
Notes of resizing RAID partition
You should pay more attention to RAID and server when doing any operations, because data is most important. Before resizing RAID volumes, you should know several points.
- Do not break RAID arrays in the raid controller, the steps to resize RAID virtual drive are the same with resizing physical disk partition.
- No matter which type and how you build the raid array, check in Disk Management whether the partitions to shrink and extend are in same disk. Remember no partitioning software can resize partitions beyond 2 different physical or virtual disks.
- Select a safe partitioning utility. Different with read-only program, the partition resizing software will move files and modify all parameters of related disk, partition and files. So a slight error could cause system boot failure, partition damage or data loss. It costs such a long time to restore everything and back to normal, even if you have backup.
NIUBI Partition Editor is the ONLY program that integrated unique Roll-Back technology to ensure 100% system and data safety. It is able to roll back the server to the right status before resizing automatically and in a flash, if any software error or hardware issue such as power failure occurred during resizing. Operating system and data always keep intact. This technology is tremendous innovation in disk management industry.
Because of its unique file-moving algorithm, NIUBI Partition Editor is also at least 30% faster than any other tools, which is strictly tested. Deceasing operation time is also important.
How to resize RAID volume without data loss?
Step 1: Download NIUBI Partition Editor Server, right click D drive and select “Resize/Move Volume“.
In the pop-up window, drag left border rightwards to shrink it.
Click OK and back to the main window, 20GB Unallocated space generated behind C drive, which is shrank from D.
Step 2: Right click C drive and select “Resize/Move Volume” again. In the pop-up window, drag the right border rightwards to hold the Unallocated space.
Step 3: C drive is extended in virtual mode, click Apply on top left to execute, done. (all operations before clicking Apply work in virtual mode, you can cancel and redo any steps.)
Video guide to resize RAID partition on Windows Server.
If you have many servers to manage, NIUBI Partition Editor Enterprise Edition is the best choice, 1 copy of which can be installed on unlimited PCs and Servers to save time and cost.