Converting an existing RAID 5 to RAID 50 w/o losing data

[unknownc]

Hello,

We have currently a 8TB RAID 5 (AMS Venus T5), which is about 90% full and connected to an shared Ubuntu box via a Sil3132 PCI-SATA card. And now we're planning to add another RAID 5 to the system for more spaces. Then there will be two questions:

1. With all internal drives the same, is it OK to build a RAID 50 (a raid 0 of two AMS RAID 5's) upon an AMS Venus T5 and an AMS Venus T5 mini (that's the only exclosure available)?

2. If so, can we just use the Sil3132 built-in tool to build the RAID 50 without losing all data on the old T5?

3. If not (for question 2), can we just use mdadm to do a soft RAID 50 (I guess we can, but am not that sure)?

Thanks a lot for your help!

Best

 

[unknownc]

Just for reference, all drives in the T5 are HITACHI Deskstar 7K3000 HDS723020BLA642, and we'd also like to know if model matters (if not, we'd use Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM ST2000DM001 for the new RAID 5).

 

[mightymaxio]

When you build any type of raid you will lose all data unless maybe a software raid? someone who knows software raids should clarify.

 

[kitsunestarwind]

I know if you have a good hardware based array you the better cards can transform the RAID between types without losing data, but that's usually in quite pricy cards.

 

[unknownc]

When you build any type of raid you will lose all data unless maybe a software raid? someone who knows software raids should clarify.

So I guess mdadm will work? Can anyone who knows mdadm well help on this?