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Upgrading from Software RAID to Hardware RAID

Use the information in this section to upgrade from software RAID to hardware RAID.

In general, when upgrading from software RAID to hardware RAID, you will additionally need to purchase the Thinksystem ST250 Hardware RAID Cable Kit. Note that the upgrade scenarios will be different if a second disk cage and backplane has been installed. See the following table for details.

  • Software RAID to Hardware RAID

    Table 1. Upgrade scenarios
    ScenariosBefore upgradeAfter upgradeRAID adapter
    Scenario 1Four 3.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Four 3.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 8i
    Scenario 2Eight 3.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Eight 3.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 8i
    Scenario 3Eight 2.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Eight 3.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 8i

  • Software RAID to Hardware RAID (second disk drive cage and backplane kit is installed)

    Table 2. Upgrade scenarios
    ScenariosBefore upgradeAfter upgradeRAID adapter
    Scenario 1Four 3.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Eight 3.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 8i
    Scenario 2Four 3.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Four 3.5 hot-swap drives plus Eight 2.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 16i or Two RAID adapters - 8i
    Scenario 3Eight 2.5 hot-swap drives (software RAID)Sixteen 2.5 hot-swap drives (hardware RAID)One RAID adapter - 16i or Two RAID adapters - 8i

For information on the cable routing, see Internal cable routing.