Migrating RAID5 to a different controller

[taz420nj]

Ok so I just need a little info here..

My very old storage server motherboard went tango uniform, so I had to upgrade. Now it is a Ryzen. I had two RAID arrays on it, one RAID6 using a Dell H700, and the other is RAID5 using an ancient 3Ware 9550-8i PCI-X controller. The RAID6 array was no problem, because it's PCIe. The RAID5 however is creating a problem. Motherboards don't have PCI/PCI-X slots anymore, and I tried getting a PCI->PCIe slot adapter, but then I realized it has a 5v key, the PCI-X card is 3.3v keyed. Have not found an adapter with a universal slot.

So now I'm thinking of just getting a cheap 3Ware/LSI card that has PCIe. I know there is some kind of upgrade path that allows for not destroying the array, because I was able to move the array from whatever 3Ware controller it was on before onto the 9550 - but that was a really long time ago. Anyone have any suggestions for something that's most likely to be compatible? Should I stick with the oldest 3Ware PCIe I can find to match the "back then" tech? Or will something more recent be more likely to recognize that old of a configuration? I know 3Ware became LSI, will LSI read them or do I need to make sure it's 3Ware?

It doesn't have to work for long, it just has to work long enough to get the data onto my new Unraid server.

Thanks

 

[newtekie1]

https://www.digiliant.com/docs/3ware9650SE-UsrGuide.pdf

According to the 9650SE user guide on page 131(their numbering, it's 141 according to Adobe Acrobat):

After you have configured a unit on a 3ware 9000 series controller, you can move it to a different 3ware 9000 series controller, and retain the configuration on the new controller. This is referred to as “array roaming.” When connecting the unit to the new controller, you do not have to physically connect the drives to the same ports to which they were connected on the previous controller. The firmware will still recognize the unit. This feature is referred to as “disk roaming.”

 

[claes]

@newtekie1 is right IME — it should be fine migrating to any 3ware/LSI (and, by extension, most PERC) cards. Just make sure to spend a week checking the array afterwards

 

[taz420nj]

https://www.digiliant.com/docs/3ware9650SE-UsrGuide.pdf

According to the 9650SE user guide on page 131(their numbering, it's 141 according to Adobe Acrobat):

Good to know, thanks!

@newtekie1 is right IME — it should be fine migrating to any 3ware/LSI (and, by extension, most PERC) cards. Just make sure to spend a week checking the array afterwards

Ok, so I'll be dumping the RAID6 array onto Unraid as well in the next week and retiring it. So you're saying that I should in theory be able to just plug the drives into the H700 and it should be able to read it? Or is it enough of a "maybe" that I should just get like a 9590 for $20? Its not irreplaceable, but it's got a 6TB chunk of my Plex library on it and it would just be a pain in the ass to replace.

 

[claes]

I’d give it a shot! Worst case scenario you have to buy that card after all.

 

[taz420nj]

I’d give it a shot! Worst case scenario you have to buy that card after all.

I'm more concerned about it wrecking the array when it boots up lol

 

[claes]

I’m not 100% tbh — I transferred an array from a 9750 to my h700 and it worked OOB but I don’t want to make any promises

 

[taz420nj]

I’m not 100% tbh — I transferred an array from a 9750 to my h700 and it worked OOB but I don’t want to make any promises

Well since you also went from a 9000 series to H700 it gives me some confidence that it'll work. Thanks!