[Scgeeks] Re: Question about transferring a RAID-1 array between computers

[John Malmberg]

Borgholio wrote:
> I have two disks in a RAID-1 PATA array on one computer.  They are 
> connected to the onboard RAID controller of that motherboard.  My new 
> motherboard does not have onboard PATA RAID, but it does have SATA 2 
> which has built-in RAID.
> 
> My question is, would I be able to take the two PATA drives out of my 
> old computer, put PATA -> SATA adapters on them, plug them into my new 
> motherboard, and have the array function as it did before?  Or would I 
> be better off installing a PATA RAID card?

Hardware raid usually uses proprietary metadata on the disk to store the 
configuration.

It is unlikely that a disk can be moved from PATA to SATA and have it work.

If the old computer is still working, I would recommend using your 
favorite transfer program/method to move the data from the old to the 
new, as you are going to newer drives at the beginning of their lives, 
rather than buying a controller for obsolete drives that are approaching 
the end of their life.

Watch for bargains for a transfer drive.

I recently found 750 GB USB drives on sale at Best Buy for $64 each (no 
rebate), and they seem to work fine plugged into my DS-10 running 
OpenVMS 8.3

Sad that I can buy 3/4 of a terabyte of storage for less than it cost to 
fill the minivan's gas tank.

-John
wb8tyw at qsl.network
Personal Opinion Only