HP ProLiant DL380 G5-Storage-Server - Manual (Page 43)

Guidelines for managing disks and volumes
When managing disks and volumes:
• The first two logical drives are configured for the storage server operating system and should not
be altered in any manner. If the first two logical drives are altered, the system recovery process
may not function properly when using the System Recovery DVD. Do not tamper with the “DON’T
ERASE” or local C: volume. These are reserved volumes and must be maintained as they exist.
• HP does not recommend spanning array controllers with dynamic volumes. The use of software
RAID-based dynamic volumes is not recommended. Use the array controller instead; it is more
efficient.
• Use meaningful volume labels with the intended drive letter embedded in the volume label, if
possible. (For example, volume e: might be named “Disk E:.”) Volume labels often serve as the
only means of identification.
• Record all volume labels and drive letters in case the system needs to be restored.
• When managing basic disks, only the last partition on the disk can be extended unless the
disk is changed to dynamic.
• Basic disks can be converted to dynamic, but cannot be converted back to basic without deleting
all data on the disk.
• Basic disks can contain up to four primary partitions (or three primary partitions and one
extended partition).
• Format drives with a 16 K allocation size for best support of shadow copies, performance,
and defragmentation.
• NTFS formatted drives are recommended, because they provide the greatest level of support for
shadow copies, encryption, and compression.
• Only basic disks can be formatted as FAT or FAT32.
• Read the online Disk Management help found in the utility.
Scheduling defragmentation
Defragmentation is the process of analyzing local volumes and consolidating fragmented files and folders
so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. This improves file system performance.
Because defragmentation consolidates files and folders, it also consolidates the free space on a volume.
This reduces the likelihood that new files will be fragmented.
Defragmentation for a volume can be scheduled to occur automatically at convenient times.
Defragmentation can also be done once, or on a recurring basis.
NOTE:
Scheduling defragmentation to run no later than a specific time prevents the defragmentation process
from running later than that time. If the defragmentation process is running when the time is reached,
the process is stopped. This setting is useful to ensure that the defragmentation process ends before the
demand for server access is likely to increase.
If defragmenting volumes on which shadow copies are enabled, use a cluster (or allocation unit) size of
16 KB or larger during the format. Otherwise defragmentation registers as a change by the Shadow
Copy process. This increase in the number of changes forces Shadow Copy to delete snapshots as
the limit for the cache file is reached.
HP ProLiant Storage Server 43