Can't figure out RAID 10 in Win10/server 2016

GrimOfDoom · August 26, 2018

I have to build a proof of concept server for a small business I work at (I am the only one with enough knowledge and basic training to do so), and I have had no luck with the final step of creating a RAID 10. I am permitted to only 4 drives max and they must be RAID 10, and using a cheap 4 SATA port PCI adapter card (with built in basic raid of 1, 0, 10 and something else). Anyways, when I try to implement RAID 10 with Windows Server 2016 or the PCI card, neither actually do it right (Or I do something wrong). They chain into a single drive, but everything is just stored to a single disk, as when that single disk gets pulled- the entire virtual disk stops working and all the data is lost. The other 3 drives can be removed while the system is running (Smart, I know. Surprised it has not puffed into smoke so far), but there is always just that one single disk that is only used even with the striping at a small 8kb and files at 1GB+.

I was never taught about even how to make a RAID from the IT course I took, so I can easily be making the wrong choices somewhere. I also know it was just 1 drive holding all the data because I could shut the server down, and individually look at all the drives where 3 are un-allocated and 1 has completely readable data including an ~4GB video that plays no problem. I cannot even find any tutorials on how to do it, as most go over RAID 5 and 6. I need RAID 10 as I could be away for a week+ with no one there having the ability to switch the correct drive out, so the redundancy will be major data saving. This is the final step I need before I can show off the demo server, so I can get the money to get the actual parts and software needed to finish this Frankenstein of a server (ex-computer turned server, built by someone else who decided that it was best to have 2x2GB and 1x4GB of DDR3 RAM).

Electronics Wizardy · August 26, 2018

Are you using storage spacse? Cheap sata cards are known for problems.

Just setup storage spaces with 2 collums and a mirror and then you have a raid 10.

Get a real card for raid or hpa, like something from lsi or areca or adeptec, those cheap cards are bad, and aren't real hardware raid normally.

GrimOfDoom · August 26, 2018

9 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Are you using storage spacse? Cheap sata cards are known for problems.

Just setup storage spaces with 2 collums and a mirror and then you have a raid 10.

Get a real card for raid or hpa, like something from lsi or areca or adeptec, those cheap cards are bad, and aren't real hardware raid normally.

Can you explain or provide a source that explains how to make this? I’ve tried making 2 mirrors, but there was no option to stripe them together to make RAID 10.

I won’t be able to get the money to build a proper server, getting a real server/raid card and some actual performance(stuck with the cheap ~$25-30 card that was lying around) for a long time.

Electronics Wizardy · August 26, 2018

3 hours ago, GrimOfDoom said:

12 hours ago, Electronics Wizardy said:

Can you explain or provide a source that explains how to make this? I’ve tried making 2 mirrors, but there was no option to stripe them together to make RAID 10.

You make a single mirror, and when you do that you make 2 collums.

https://dataonsupport.dataonstorage.com/support/solutions/articles/6000015451-what-are-columns-and-how-does-storage-spaces-decide-how-many-to-use-

It may do this automatically, just try making a mirrored volume.

GrimOfDoom · August 26, 2018

That documentation is great and all, but I cannot even find this "storage spaces" tool in windows server 2016 when I search it up or perform a basic run command for it. In Disk Management, I create 2 mirrors or 2 stripes, then when I right click them- there is no other options to mirror/stripe those together into RAID10/01.

On my 5th attempt, doing everything the exact same using the cheap raid card I have. 2 disks are clearly striped together, but the other 2 are just not used AT ALL even though I tell it to. If I remove either disk A or B, then nothing happens. If I remove either disk C or D, then the entire RAID/volume becomes unrecognizable until I plug it back in.

6th attempt. I tried this time with storage pool, all 4 disks into a single one in "mirror", and in my file transfers I was getting much faster speeds. I do not know how to tell if it really worked or not in the end.