CDLehner

And sorry 😬 Never copied data, from one drive to another. Link to best/current method? Again…I don’t plan/need to use the array, until I’m all done. Thx

Thank you for indulging me itimpi! I did just want to follow-up, about 2 (3s) into 1 (8). Thx

Sorry. Sooo many of these...and they usually have this twist, or that variance. Just want to make sure, I get the proper advice for my (seemingly simple) situation (never can be too careful, when it comes to your precious data after all, right?). 8 x 3T array...with an 8T Parity. I want to replace (2) of the 3Ts, with a new 8. FTR...I'm not worried about down time, or being able to use the array while I'm doing the switcharoo. Simple and safe, take precedence. Thx,

Thought I'd tag on here, rather than start the same topic. I want to replace 2 x 3s, with an 8; but the (2) 3s are not empty. Certainly don't want to screw up...and honestly, I find the instructions a little confusing. Thanks

Thanks VR. After doing some browsing, I picked up this case… Check this out on @Newegg: GAMEMAX Titan Silent Black Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case I’m just going to move the build for now, and upgrade the motor at my convenience.

So…I’ve got an old build (10+ years), in a Norco RPC-2212. Recently, it appears the bottom 4 drive-bays of the back-plane, crapped out on me (here’s my troubleshooting thread... I was only using 8 of the 12 bays (even though I had 9 drives, plus an SSD)…but I was using the top and bottom 4, to allow some breathing room for cooling. So, even though…when I discovered the problem, I was able to get the array going with the top and middle 4; I resolved not to tempt fate, and move to a new build. Here’s the problem: I’m not a “power user” at all. I don’t run VMs, or even transcode. My box is like a JBOD file server. Even though it’s old…I don’t have any noticeable performance shortcomings. A new build, is always enticing; but a) I’m having the hardest time finding a case, and b) the thought of spending $1k is not exactly “fun”. My array is only 24T…so I did think of going with a smaller-footprint case, with more like 5/6 drives. I looked, and while there’s no shortage of chassis out there; a) they all, naturally, required all new parts (as they wouldn’t fit my ATX 12x10 board), and b) almost every case had lukewarm reviews, pretty much universally mentioning the cooling issues of drives bays packed into smaller solutions. As a possible way, around a new build…I was considering a TerraMaster F5-221 (because I saw a YT video, of an uR build on one…and I liked the form factor, and out-of-the-box, plug & play nature of the pre-build); but after some research, it appears the chip is a joke. The equivalent of an old, low-cost…laptop model (dual-core? Hell, I think even my decade+ old chip has 6). I thought about stepping up, to the 422; but I think that’s just a quad…and an extra $200 (the 221 is ~$300 right now), to go from a “$30” chip…to a “$50” chip, just didn’t seem prudent. You can see me, wringing my hands. I then just started thinking, about a case…that would take ALL my old parts (save for maybe the “server” PSU), and just transfer my existing drives. Like the SilverStone CS380; but again…lots of complaints, about cooling and warnings about mods. Alternatively, I see cases…towers, that hold ~8 drives internally (hot-swap is nice, but not a deal-breaker). But while I see BUILD pictures, where there are plenty of drive slots; the pics of them for sale, don’t look that way (so my amateur guess…is added drive cages?). While looking for a demonstrative pic…I came across the Fractal R5 for the 1st time. Might fit the bill perfectly; but if anyone has taken the time to read this, and feel the pain and take pity on the noob…any advice, even if it’s “yeah…the R5 would be perfect”…would be welcome.

I've decided to move my array, from my dinosaur Norco RPC-2212 build...to a smaller form factor. After pricing out, a 5-bay build...I think I'm just going to go, with a TerraMaster F5. I'm not what I'd call, a "high-demand" user: ONE video stream at a time, and I don't even think I'm going to do 4k through the network. Probably locally, as I'm not even sure my house's network wouldn't be the bottle-neck. So...can I get away, with a 221?

So…I’m looking to build a new box, with this chassis http://www.istarusa.com/en/istarusa/products.php?model=S-35-B5SA It appears to take a 1u flex PSU…but I can’t seem to find one, with 5 SATA connectors (and can’t find a reliable image of the backplane, to see if there’s any kind of “consolidation”). Little help??

So...I wasn't exactly sure where to turn; which, you will see...is part of the issue. I've had an unRAID servers, for years. Used this forum, to successfully build several iterations of file-storing boxes. I'm a set-it-n-forget-it type user. no power-user am I. A few months back, I caught the crypto-mining bug. I'm sure it's a familiar tale from there: not as "easy" as I thought...not as "profitable" as I thought. The whole Ehtereum thing, etc, etc. I did a TON of research; never really got off the ground. Anyway...now I've got this "gaming rig", that I bought...because it was one of the only possible ways, to get an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060Ti, which was the GPU I had decided on. I want to sell it; but have no earthly idea how. Of course, there's (fleec)eBay...buy god only knows what that will cost me. I'm an Audiophile, and hi-end audio has its own, dedicated marketplaces. I thought this kind of thing might as well? Any advice would be appreciated.

If I can get these last 2 drives on-line, and the array back up...I'm only going to do so, long enough to move the data safely somewhere. While I contemplate a new build...I have an HPE ProLiant MicroServer. It's been sitting in the box, waiting for use at my business. Might throw it together...just to get data moved, to a safe box. I assume...while "overkill"...there's no problem, using this pre-built solution? Just boot to unOS, and it bypasses everything else...and just turns into an expensive unRAID box? Can someone take pity, and point me to the best thread...about porting more drives, down to less drives? Thanks,

As I type this, I'm waiting on an outcome...to a possible solution. Trial and error, lead to... - PCI-E SAS Controller Card back on board; successful boot (and card connected to array) - Molex to array; NOT successful boot My HD array, is 3 x 4. I had the TOP 4, and BOTTOM 4 arrays in use; leaving "breathing-room" in the MIDDLE, between the two. - Molex onto to MIDDLE array (empty); booted - And now I've moved the 4 drives from the BOTTOM, to the MIDDLE; moved power and data...and awaiting a successful boot, of 8 drives (full array is 9, plus SSD...put they're "independent" for now). This would mean, bad power...on the BOTTOM array of 4. Yes...8 drives, back in biz.

UPDATE- Still no where near 100%...but getting some of my strength and focus back; and decide to monkey with the Server a bit. New info... - Added back, remaining RAM to board; successful boot to console - Connected reverse break-out cable...from SATA ports 0, 1, 2, 3 to ONE 4-drive array AND, MOLEX power (to array); board would not power on (at power-switcch, was has been working with all other tests to this point). - Pulling MOLEX off, but leaving reverse break-out on; successful boot to console EDIT- Instead of connecting all (3) MOLEX, to each of the array of 3 x 4; I did only 1...the one the reverse break-out cable was on. Successfully booted to console, and console sees those 4 drives. 🤔

FTR...this is still unresolved. I got Covid, and have not been able to work it further since. TY

TBH JM...I didn't stick around, for post codes. You know how long, the OS can take to load...after a bad shutdown. Once I saw I had video, and it was loading...I kinda left the room. I've got to methodically go through, all the remainiing parts. I'll listen for any post codes then. Thanks for all the assistence. I have my fingers crossed 🤞 (but I'm not at the finish-line yet; so I'll be posting my findings)

Interesting 🤔 So...I put half my RAM, the OS USB, and video back on the board. It booted to the unRAID login! Left off the board: - PCI-E SAS Controller Card - Reverse Breakout cable - Other half of RAM I guess start putting them, back on...one at a time; see what craps things out?

It comes down to how much time and money you want to add to the stack of old parts instead of sourcing newer more power efficient stuff. Yeah Jonathan; that's my dilemma at the moment. OT1H, there's this used GigaByte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H on eBay, for ~$42 MoBo (free shipping; accepts returns). I dropped ~$60 on the PSU (when it didn't seem I needed to); another $40...and if I could get things back up and running...no matter how short-lived...I think I'd consider myself lucky, to have gotten away at ~$100. OTOH...if that doesn't work; we're looking at CPU, RAM; and I'm down the rabbit-hole, and have thrown some good money after bad. Thinking about it. Just out of curiosity...I spied this case and this mini-ATX board, that'll run 6xSATA MoBo I know; obviously I need more. But...~$390 isn't a bad start. But...how do I even get 8 + parity, down to say 4 + parity (larger drives, obviously). I mean...do I need to have my old box up and running, to begin with??

So…piezo arrived today. Powered up…5 minutes; no post. Flipped the piezo, just in case; 5 minutes…no post. Flipped the piezo back; removed board battery and replaced (for good measure). 5 minutes…no post. Think I need to give it even longer, JM; or does that mean we’re looking at a bad board? Happy Labor Day

I'm keeping this in mind Conner. Thx

UPDATE - I don't know what I mistook, for speaker leads; but there are none. Get a speaker? FTR...hooked up the power-button leads, and they work. Also...FWIW...realized I forgot to pull the unOS off the USB I/O. EDIT- Piezo on its way.

Yeah; there’s no Piezo speaker like that, that I’ve noticed. The case DOES have speaker “leads”; but…in the past…whenever I got post-codes, EVERYTHING was still hooked up (I’ve never had to troubleshoot like THIS. So I suppose, they might have been coming from the monitor). My case is the Norco RPC-2212. I guess I could Google, whether it has a little speaker (in which case, I could re-attach the leads. Not even sure, they were ever hooked up/that I removed them, when I was pulling everything else off, to begin with. Thx EDIT: of course…can’t find any kind of info, that confirms that. Should I just buy one, considering it’s $5? While I’m ordering sh*t…at THIS point; would one of those CPU testers be worthwhile?

I thought post-code, came next? I thought this test...was just to see, if the heatsink fan spun? I don't have speaker, that would go right off the pins. I've certainly heard the post-codes before...so, either I do have a speaker on the board...or it was off my monitor. I don't guess, i can hook the video up? How about external, powered speakers...from the 3.5 audio jack? Can I at least try...and see if I get fans? Will that tell me anything useful (for now)?? I'm champing at the bit. EDIT: Champing at the bit ^...so couldn't wait; and CPU fan, DID spin. Mean ANYTHING?

OK Jonathan: the only things still on the board, are these (3) (+the CPU and heatsink fan obviously). Am I OK to go ahead with the "jumper" test? Thx

So, Jonathan...are you suggesting my next steps are... - remove EVERYTHING on the board...except CPU and heatsink/fan - find the short pins - listen for post beep errors ...then - add RAM back to the board - and try to determine what post errors are indicating? Thanks,

Jonathan...I don't have ANY paper clips, at home 🤣 So I took one home, from my Office...but misplaced it; but then found it, and conducted the test...against my "old" PSU. FTR...this is my board; GigaByte GA-MA790GPT-UD3H. I guess I'll start RTFM, unless you guys can point me at a reset button. In any case...going forward; probably a good idea, to visually be on the same page. Thanks

So…now; what’s the likelihood of the culprit…in order? MoBo CPU RAM? Anything else I could be missing? This may sound dumb…but I’m going to ask anyway: any chance, this is the power button on my case??