Restore the system

Assumptions for the following recommendations

Original Scheraga RAID card is OK.

• So far, no indication that it isn't OK.

Using a RAID card is more robust than not using the card.

• Although the card can fail, and a new card would be required to re-access the disks, this risk of failure is far less than the risk that one of the hard disks will fail. Hence, the value of using the RAID card.

Rebuild 1: Operating system

Summary recommendation

• Retain 100% functionality.
• No purchases necessary.
• Reuse both existing OS hard drives.
  • The data currently on the hard drives can be deleted.

Details

Unknown: ChemIT to confirm drives pass a drive test. If they do, format and redeploy them.

Result would be status quo:

• 160GB of space.
  • Two 160GB drives on hardware RAID card, mirrored (RAID 1).
  • OS using ~77GB of this space and not growing rapidly, so that's plenty of space.

Rebuild 2: Data

Summary recommendation

• Don't retain 100% functionality
  • Retain full data storage capability, with same redundant configuration.
  • Remove in-box versioning (Back in Time copy), decreasing number of disks required.
• No purchases necessary.
• Reuse existing OS hard drives which still work (at leest 4 of the original 6).
  • The data currently on the hard drives can be deleted.

Details

One hard drive has a broken board. Current plan does not require it, so thus likely not worth expense to fix.

Unknown: ChemIT to confirm other 5 drives pass a drive test. If they do, format and redeploy at least 4 of them.

Unknown: A hard drive port in the head-node might not be usable. If needed, it would need to be confirmed it can still work.

Result would be same storage space and redundancy for data:

• 6TB of space.
  • Four 3TB drives on hardware RAID card, so 2 could fail (RAID 6).
  • Have one spare drive "on hand".
  • Data currently at 3.1TB, and growing.

Add functionality to the system: Backup

Option1: In-room, off-box, copy

HDs in a box.

Option1: Out of room