I have a server with two 2T disks in Raid 1. The Raid is done in software. I have another computer and I want to move the two 2T disks to this computer, add one 2T and switch over to Raid 5.

I do not want to lose any data.

Can I just put the three 2T in the other computer and connect them in Raid 5?

Or should I do something more?

Google points to this guide, but be sure to read the comments as well, and take a backup first.

It is still not considered a good choice to move an install to a new system unless it is exactly the same computer. I know, I know everyone has started to do it but you never know what might happen. A complete and tested backup is needed before you attempt this.

Thanks for the info!

The disks are pure data disks. No system disk. In the new server, a new operating system will be installed. After installing, I want to move the disk from the old server to the new one.

The link in macemoneta can work.

Does anyone has another idea?

I would create a backup (at most it's just 1 gb), then moves the disks, and a theory solution would be to create a raid 5 on the free space at these raid 1 disks and the new one, copy the data to it then remove the old raid 1 then resize the raid 5.

Thanks!
But it is not 1GB, it's over 1.5TB.... ;-)

But your steps are handy. I think i will do: buy a new 2TB, backup the data to the new 2TB, put the two Raid1 disk in Raid1 in the new server, make as much space as I can for the Raid5 partitions, create Raid5 in the new server, move the data from Raid1 to Raid5, delete Raid1 and increase Read5. At last, if everything is OK, I add the new 2TB to the Raid5.

I will read some more how to add a disk to Raid5.

Thanks!
But it is not 1GB, it's over 1.5TB.... ;-)

But your steps are handy. I think i will do: buy a new 2TB, backup the data to the new 2TB, put the two Raid1 disk in Raid1 in the new server, make as much space as I can for the Raid5 partitions, create Raid5 in the new server, move the data from Raid1 to Raid5, delete Raid1 and increase Read5. At last, if everything is OK, I add the new 2TB to the Raid5.

I will read some more how to add a disk to Raid5.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, i thought you have two of one, my bad.

I would suggest you read about the resizing of a raid partitions, if it is possibole then you are on the right track.

Although that i (to myself) like the cleanes way to do such things, so i would prefer to copy my data to a spare drive and then create the raid from scratch on the three disks.

Can't say how well the data will compress in a backup. gzip has a level 9 I believe or at least 7-zip and a few others can really compress if you have time.

That will help.