HP ProLiant – Does RAID Rebuild Automatically on ML350 G6?

First, Backup.

Second, Verify Backup, then backup again.

I'm assuming that your current config is that the 2x72GB are a RAID1 array, and the 3x146GB disks are the RAID5 array, and that any new disks will be added to one of the empty drive bays.

I believe that this is answered here: Extend Raid5 with a new HD (HP DL380 G3) (the HP software and hardware is

I think it may be possible doing it online using the HP Array Configuration Utility from within Windows (You do have the HP PSP installed, right?), I believe that you can add disks to a RAID5 array and set it to add the disk to the array.

Ensure that the server is on backup power and that there's no possiblity of Updates or a reboot happening; That would really break your filesystem in the middle of a rebuild.

You've got something funky going on there, though I'm not exactly sure what it is.

The server should boot and operate normally with just 1 drive in it. All that should happen is the controller marks the array as degraded, but Operating Systems don't care (or even know) about this condition and should carry on as normal.

With regards to the rebuild, ordinarily I'd say look at the HP Array Diag Utility as that will give you some indication of rebuild progress. Since the Operating System sounds hosed at this point, the BIOS may have some rudimentary was of configuring arrays and displaying their status. Failing that, you should be able to boot off of a StartSmart CD which contains the HP Array Diag Utility. A 36GB drive should rebuild relatively quickly - I've seen a 36GB RAID1 on an ML370 rebuild in a morning.

Is it definitely the BIOS telling you drive C: isn't found? C: is a very Windows thing, and I'd be surprised that a BIOS would reference a very Windows-centric thing like that when other Operating Systems can be installed (it may well do, it just strikes me as odd).