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→Configuring RAID 5 Using Windows Server 2008 Disk Management
== Configuring RAID 5 Using Windows Server 2008 Disk Management ==
A Windows Server 2008 RAID 5 configuration may be set up using the Disk Management snap-in. This is accessed either from the Server Manager or Computer Management tools. To launch the Server Manager, open the Start menu and click on the Server Manager option, or click on the Server Manager icon in the task bar. Alternatively launch Computer Management from Start -> All Programs -> Administration Tools -> Computer Management or run '''compmgmt.csc''' at the command prompt or in a Run dialog.
As previously noted, RAID 5 implementation requires a minimum of 3 disk drives. For the purposes of this tutorial a system containing four disk drives is assumed. In this scenario, disk 0 is the system disk and disks 1 though 3 are available for use in the RAID 5 configuration. Before proceeding the disks will need to be initialized using either the MBR or GPT partition style. Assuming these prerequisites are met the first step is to right click on one of the 3 disks in the Disk Management graphical view. In the resulting popup menu select the ''New RAID-5 Volume...'' option to invoke the ''New RAID-5 Volume'' wizard. On the wizard's welcome page click on the ''Next'' button to proceed to the ''Disk Selection'' screen. This screen contains a list of disk drives available for inclusion in the disk array together with a list of selected disks. Currently only the current disk is included in the ''Selected'' list. Two more disks must be added to the selected disks before the RAID 5 array can be built. Select disks from the ''Available'' list and click on the ''Add>'' button to add the disk to the selected list. Once sufficient disks (in this case disks 1, 2 and 3) are selected the ''Next'' button will activate to allow the remainder of the configuration to be completed. Note that disk 0 (the system disk) is not included in the RAID 5 array:
[[Image:windows_server_2008_raid_5_disk_selection.jpg|Selecting disks for a Windows Server 2008 RAID 5 configuration]]
With the disk selections completed, the ''Next'' button proceeds to the drive letter and mount point assignment screen. Once these settings are configured click ''Next'' to proceed to the ''Format Volume'' screen. Select the appropriate file system and compression options and click on ''Next'' to proceed to the ''Summary'' screen. Review the information displayed and click on ''Finish'' to initiate the RAID 5 creation process. During this process the Disk Management graphical view will list the disks as ''Formatting'' and then ''Resynching''. The amount of time these phases will take depends on the size of the volumes in question. Once the process is complete the status will change to ''Healthy'' and the RAID 5 volume is ready for use.
== Configuring RAID 5 from the Command Prompt using DiskPart ==
In addition to configuring RAID 5 from within Disk Management, the configuration may also be implemented from the command prompt using '''DiskPart'''. DiskPart may be launched either from a command prompt or a Run dialog simply by typing ''diskpart''. Once invoked, DiskPart will display the ''DiskPart'' command prompt and is ready to receive commands.
The first step in the configuration process is to identify the disks attached to the system using the ''list disk'' command:
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For the purposes of this chapter disks 1, 2 and 3 will be used to create a RAID 5 configuration. Each of these disks need to be converted to dynamic disks before the configuration can proceed. This is achieved by selecting each disk in turn and executing the ''convert dynamic'' command:
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