Storage redesign (Windows 2000 dynamic disks): Current configuration is a 4×100 GB striped volume (RAID-0). Using only the existing four disks, you must add fault tolerance while keeping as much capacity as possible. What is the correct reconfiguration plan?

Introduction / Context: A striped set (RAID-0) maximizes performance and space but has no redundancy—any single disk failure destroys the volume. Given four equal-sized disks and a requirement to add fault tolerance while preserving maximum usable capacity, Windows 2000 software RAID-5 is the best fit on existing hardware.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Four 100 GB disks currently configured as one stripe (RAID-0).
• Need fault tolerance and to maximize total capacity.
• Only existing hardware may be used (no fifth disk).

Concept / Approach: RAID-5 provides block-level striping with distributed parity. Usable capacity with n disks is (n − 1) * min(disk size), so with four 100 GB disks, you get ~300 GB usable and can withstand a single disk failure. Migration from a stripe to RAID-5 requires backup, recreation, and restore in Windows 2000.

Step-by-Step Solution: Back up all data from the current striped volume.Delete the RAID-0 volume in Disk Management.Create a new RAID-5 volume using all four disks (convert to dynamic if not already).Restore data to the new RAID-5 volume and verify integrity.

Verification / Alternative check: Validate parity rebuild behavior by simulating a disk removal in a maintenance window (if policy permits) or reviewing event logs during a controlled resync to ensure fault tolerance works as expected.

Why Other Options Are Wrong: Convert to dynamic alone: Does not add redundancy.

Mirroring (RAID-1): With four disks likely yields 2 mirrors → only ~200 GB usable, not maximizing space.

Spanned volumes: Provide capacity but no fault tolerance.

None of the above: Incorrect because RAID-5 meets both requirements on existing hardware.

Common Pitfalls: Attempting in-place conversion without backup, misunderstanding that spanned volumes are not redundant, or underestimating rebuild time and ensuring backups are current.

Final Answer: Back up data, delete the stripe, create a RAID-5 volume on the four disks, and restore the data