[HKNewBi]

Hello

I am receiving conflicting reports. I am trying to set up disk mirroring on a workstation running Windows XP Professional.

I have put in a further 2 hard disks of identical size and would like one to mirror the other.

I know I can create a dynamic disk with a striped set but this just gives me a volume the combined size of the disks - not mirroring.

If a Google search is to be believed, this functionality is not available using Disk Management under XP Pro, but only using server products.

Can anyone help with this? If Windows XP doesn't do it what s/ware can someone recommend?

Thanks

[kostas]

From the XP Help and Support Center:

Mirrored volumes are available on all computers running Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. Mirrored volumes are not available on computers running Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP Home Edition, Windows XP Professional, or Windows XP 64-Bit Edition. However, you can use a computer running Windows 2000 Professional or Windows XP Professional to create mirrored volumes on a remote computer running Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, or Windows 2000 Datacenter Server.

[HKNewBi]

Aii, confirms what I thought about not being in XP Pro.

Given that, anyone recommend some reliable s/ware that can do the job?

Thanks

[KnowItAll]

Get a raid card .... Adaptec etc cost a few hundred dollars and do the mirroring in hardware. The mirrored disk set appears like 1 disk to the OS.

[discobay]

Hardware-based mirroring is more efficient too.

[HKNewBi]

Thanks guys

Is there a software solution readily available? It is only for storing old documents, photo's etc which I also back up to dvd, so performance is really no issue.

[Nuts&Bolts]

Originally Posted by HKNewBi

Thanks guys

Is there a software solution readily available? It is only for storing old documents, photo's etc which I also back up to dvd, so performance is really no issue.

Why bother with RAID ?

Me ??

I just use 3 x 320GB internal drives [in addition to my 2 main+slave HD's, the former I connect up as necessary via a 3.5" adaptor to USB2 plug, and only switch the aux. HD's power on when needed, and then plug in to any free USB2 port.

Does it work?

If it didn't, I'd not have accumulated 900GB+ on to these 320GB HD's !!

Anyway, for less space intensive storage, why aren't you making use of one of the Secondary HD/CDROM cable connections ?? It doesn't *have* to be permanent.

[HKNewBi]

Found myself in a computer center so bought a cheap raid card. Got two disks set up as RAID 1. Currently taking forever to build the new mirrored set. Be interesting to see how well it works.

[TaLL|dUdE]

Originally Posted by Nuts&Bolts

Why bother with RAID ?

why bother? if you don't have a duplicate backup of your precious files and one of your hdd goes bad, then goodbye to your files.

i used to have multiple Hdd's and manually synchronize them or use software to have mirrored copies but this proved to be quite tedious.

having RAID eliminates how tedious backup can be and keeps your data safe.

[HKNewBi]

Although I can't seem to get it working.

The s/ware that come with this RAID card is appauling. Not sure if my data is now mirrored or not.

Also it is VERY slow. To copy 70GB to the new mirror took about 4 hours. Bad.