## Changing the RAID level

You can change the RAID levels of currently defined logical drives. To use Change RAID level, all of the logical drives within the array must be the same RAID level.

Note: If the logical drive is RAID level-00, 10, 1E0, or 50, you cannot change the logical drive to another RAID level. If the logical drive is RAID level-0, 1, 1E, 5, or 5E, you cannot change the logical drive to RAID level-00, 10, 1E0, or 50.

1. Click an array from the Main Tree (that is, the left tree).
2. Click Actions --> Change RAID level.

   If you click one of the following, another tree displays on the right. Go to step 3.

   - Change RAID level from RAID 0 to RAID 5
   - Change RAID level from RAID 1 to RAID 5

   Note: If the array already contains the maximum number of physical drives (based on the stripe-unit size), the above Change RAID level actions are not available.

   If you click one of the following, go to step 5.

   - Change RAID level from RAID 5 to RAID 0
   - Change RAID level from RAID 5E to RAID 5
3. Add to the selected array by dragging one ready drive from the Main Tree to the array in the right tree.

   Notes: | The Main Tree displays only physical drives that are at least the size of the smallest physical drive in the selected array. When adding to an existing array, you cannot add physical drives that are smaller than the smallest drive currently in the array. When adding to an existing array, if you add physical drives that are larger than the physical drives currently in the array, you will not be able to use all the space on the new drives. Existing physical drives in the selected array are labeled Online. Newly added physical drives are labeled New online. You cannot remove online drives from an existing array. If you want to remove a new online drive from the array, drag it back to the Main Tree.

4. After you add the physical drives to your arrays, click Next to review your new logical drive configuration.

5. Review the configuration in the right panel. It describes how the configuration will affect the logical drives and free space when you click Apply. If you want to modify the configuration, click Back to return to the array tree window.

   Tip: You can expand the tree for another view of the configuration.

6. Click Apply to approve the new configuration. The Manager automatically migrates the logical drives in the array.
   If you do not want to approve the logical drive configuration, click Cancel and return to the system management information window.

   Note: Logical drive migration is a lengthy process. You cannot perform any other actions on the affected controller until the migration is complete. The ServeRAID Manager displays a progress indicator in the status bar.

7. Click Yes when the confirm pop-up window opens.

When changing your RAID level, consider the following:

If you have a... | And you want... | Then... | And in the ServeRAID Manager...
RAID level-0 array with two or more drives | RAID level-5 | Add one and only one drive | Use the Adding physical drives to an existing array panel to define the physical hard disk drive you are adding to the array.
RAID level-1 array with two and only two drives | RAID level-5 | Add one and only one drive | Use the Adding physical drives to an existing array panel to define the physical hard disk drive you are adding to the array.
RAID level-5 array | RAID level-0 | Remove the last drive in the array | Use the Reviewing the logical drive migration configuration summary panel to confirm the RAID level change. The ServeRAID Manager automatically removes the last physical hard disk drive from the array.
RAID level-5 Enhanced | RAID level-5 | Do not add or remove a drive | Use the Reviewing the logical drive migration configuration summary panel to confirm the RAID level change.

### See also

- Working with physical drives and arrays during logical drive migration