Upgrading or replacing server Hard disks?

Question

How do I replace all the server hard disks?
I have this problem of space with the HDD on the server. I have 3x36 GB right now (RAID 5), and I am planning to upgrade to 3x300 GB (RAID 5) and use it as a file server. I will be deploying a backup and archive server for the same but that's a different story.

What I am looking at some kind of solution that I can easily remove the old hard disks and plug in the new one all the data software and settings are on the new hard disks. And the server runs on Windows 2003 standard server.

Guys your input will be a real help to me...

Thanks for the help but I wanted to know what kind of drive imaging software I can use? Will it restore on a larger hard disk with Raid 5.

I believe I can use the veritas backup utility for restoring but I wanted to know if the OS will be running like nothing happened to it, because I hate the reinstallation of Windows 2003 as it takes close to an hour and then restoring settings and data another 1/2 a day.

Moreover I've recently joined this company and know very little to work extensively on server platform but have extensive knowledge of routing and switching area.

Thanks again for help.

Answer 1

There are several things you can do, but the most INTELLIGENT thing would be to simulate a disaster. Do you know how to recover your server if you lost your RAID array? If the building burned down and all you have was your off site backups? The INTELLIGENT thing to do would be to simulate this - make a complete system backup - as you normally would - and then restore it to the new drives. If it doesn't work or something fails, you've got the old drives you can put back and try again.

Otherwise, you can image, copy, use backups, a variety of ways.