I've got an array of 6 x 250 GB SATA drives on an LSI MegaRAID 150-6 controller as the main media storage for my HTPC. It works great with no issues but I'm running low on space. I am planning on upgrading to 6 x 1 TB SATA drives using the same controller but wanted to make sure I've thought through how to future-proof this as much as possible.
The issue is what to do with the data when if I have to rebuild the array from scratch. I currently have about 1 TB of data which means I can copy it all off to a single 1 TB disk, build the new array with 5 1 TB drives, copy the data over, then wipe and integrate remaining drive in as a hot spare and eventually on-line drive. However, at some point in the future, 4.5 TB of space is not going to be enough (and I think that point is going to come in the next 4-5 years for me). When that points hit's I think I'm going to have problems finding a way to backup my 4+ TBs of data while I build my new array. I can think of a couple of alternatives that would get around having to move 4+ TBs of data off and then back on; 1. When it comes time to upgrade, add a second RAID controller so that there are two RAID array of 6 drives each. Upside - probably the cheapest route. Downside - I much prefer to have my content on one logical array and not split between two. 2. Install a 12-port RAID controller now at the same time I build the new 6 x 1TB array. Upside - no worries about controller compatabiltiy when expanding the array in the future. Downside - a decent bit of extra cost now, locks me into using the same controller for several years to come. One of the issues is I'm not sure whether my 150-6 RAID controller supports on the fly upgrading. In other words, if I had 6 x 250 GB drives and wanted to go 6 x 1TB, being able to swap out one 250 for a 1TB at a time, allowing it to rebuild the array after each. Then when all 6 are in resizing the original 1 TB array size out to the full 4.5 TB. That would probably be the most future-proof solution but might require a new controller card as I can't verify whether mine is capable of that. Thoughts? Anything I'm missing? ---- Brian
