Slowly remove RAID 10 array

[Steeps]

So mine is an interesting situation. The quick summary is that I'm upgrading from a RAID 10 array to an SSD + HDD combo.

I have set up the OS on the new SSD but I don't want to completely wipe out the RAID array just yet. I still want to be able to access the files until I know I've finished the migration.

I plan on using one of my existing drives as the new storage HDD. Is there a way to remove just the one drive from the RAID array to use as a separate drive for storage while still being able to access the array?

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hey there, Steeps!

How many drives do you have set up in your RAID 10?
Whenever tempering with any storage, the best way to go is to backup the data somewhere else before proceeding.
You can break a RAID 10 by removing a drive and it will still function. You should first ensure that the server is shut down completely.
First verify that the controller contains RAID 10 logical drives only, then power off the whole thing.
Remove one-half of the drives created by the mirror, you can even label the drives so that you don't get them wrong.
Make sure you know your drives, you shouldn't remove HDDs from opposite sides of the mirror. Be very careful.
Usually the first pair of drives are always mirrored to the second pair, but that's unless they have been physically reordered.
Afterwards restart with the remaining half of the drives that the mirror has created.
Check this manual: http://h20565.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c00378986

Hope this helps you. Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD

 

[Steeps]

Hey there, Steeps!

How many drives do you have set up in your RAID 10?
Whenever tempering with any storage, the best way to go is to backup the data somewhere else before proceeding.
You can break a RAID 10 by removing a drive and it will still function. You should first ensure that the server is shut down completely.
First verify that the controller contains RAID 10 logical drives only, then power off the whole thing.
Remove one-half of the drives created by the mirror, you can even label the drives so that you don't get them wrong.
Make sure you know your drives, you shouldn't remove HDDs from opposite sides of the mirror. Be very careful.
Usually the first pair of drives are always mirrored to the second pair, but that's unless they have been physically reordered.
Afterwards restart with the remaining half of the drives that the mirror has created.
Check this manual: http://h20565.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c00378986

Hope this helps you. Good luck!
SuperSoph_WD

Thank you for the answer, I completely forgot that I posted this thread. Unfortunately I borked it up completely by not backing up to another external drive. Somehow Windows 8 didn't like the fact that the RAID array was plugged in at the same time as the new SSD during install and considered it part of the install.

Ended up having to start over with a fresh install and I did lose some data when removing the array.

 

[SuperSoph_WD]

Hello again, Steeps!

I'm sorry to hear about your lost data! 🙁 Good job that you've learned your lesson about backups. They are super essential especially if you are planning to temper with the storage configuration in any way.
Whenever you decide to re-configure or re-install the operating system in the future, always unplug all other storage devices from the motherboard except the one that you'll be installing the OS to. What you've encountered with your RAID 10 array when you were installing Windows to the new SSD is an OS confusion, which results in boot issues and partition problems.

Hope that the data loss wasn't that big with you though!
Thanks for coming back and checking in! Best of luck with everything!
SuperSoph_WD