flambot

Hello. I have recently had my server rebuilt after it died early last year. The last parity check was Oct 2023. After getting it all back together I carried out a parity check, which corrected 10 Sync Errors. You can see I had the checkbox selected. I'm going to assume this was caused by the Computer tech doing a forced shutdown (I saw him do it as the pc wouldn't power-off at that time). I have rarely had these, so I'm not quite sure what action is now required? I think I need to carry out another check but deselect the checkbox so we are just verifying parity is valid. Is this correct? On a second note, I am really disappointed the new hardware has added 6 hours to the parity check time. Old hardware took 22 hours for a check (avg speed 76 mb/s) New hardware 28 hours (avg speed 59 mb/s) I can only assume it is the SATA expansion card used that is causing this -> Model ‎PCIE8SATM01 With the old hardware, all the HDD"s were attached to MB SATA ports. Does the ports the HDD's re connected to make any difference -> eg - should the bigger ones be on the MB, or should the smaller ones?? Would a better card help? I don't know what that would be, as I had a hell of a job getting even this hardware together. I have seen numerous posts here about an Ebay store called Art of Server? I've had a look, but am ignorant of such things. A lot were something like SAS -> SATA (whatever that is). I currently have 5x 6Tb, 1x 4Tb, 2x 2Tb data drives. The plan is to reduced the number of HDD's by adding bigger ones. I also need to update the HDD's to XFS. I had already cleaned out one of the 2Tb HDD's ready for this, but then the server died. This will probably be the next thing I do, so I'll need some insight on that. Many thanks in advance.

Wow...sounds like an experience I would rather do without. I'm personally getting past it myself. Finding tech more and more complicated and the old brain struggles with trying to sort it out. Not even sure I did the right thing rebuilding my server. In hindsight with what I know now (and all the dramas) I probably wouldn't attempt it again. Would have been a lot cheaper to just take the HDD's out, mount then under a linux distro and copy them to backup drives. Oh well...you live and learn. Just got called for dinner, so I'm off. Thanks very muchly again 👍👍👍

Yeah. I actually started this process several years ago before it died. I already have a disk cleaned out ready to go. You are correct -> a lot of my HDD's are old -> still a couple of 2TB ones in there. I have planned to get some new ones. Looking at 22Tb Seagate Ironwolf Pro. Unfortunately, they cost just a shade under $1000NZ, so going have to take my time getting them. 2x 22tb data drives is way more space than I have now (currently have 7x data drives for a total of about 30Tb) Spent the day installing and updating plugins. I also been doing lots of notes to help me in the future. I no longer use the server like I used to. Easier to turn it on, copy content to a local HDD attached to player, then turn it back of. Gone are the days of leaving it running 12hrs a day. Really appreciate the help you have put in. Couldn't have done it without it. Many thanks 🙏 What happened to it?

SUCCESS! 😃 Took my time this morning and copied individual config files across to the working USB and it booted. I had changed the auto start to no in the cfg before hand, so it the array was stopped. Everything looked correct - drives all in the correct order, so I started the array. The started array has been running for 1hour 20mins. Last Parity Check was Mon 9 Oct 2023 (741 days ago) 😮 Perhaps the server died earlier than I thought??? 🤔 So...should I run a new parity check? Wanted to let the HDD's run for a bit before stress testing them. Next up, installing some plugins I think. Many thanks for the input. I found this extremely vexing. There are still many tasks to achieve - one of them updating the filesystem to XFS. EDIT: Wanted to ask about this in the indent.cfg file I saw a dropdown when I set the USB up from scratch again for slots??, but since I've copied all my old files across, I have not seen it. Perhaps it is only available when the array is offline? This function is to do with? HDD's available in system? I only have 1x parity 7xdata, with 2x spare bays (10 HDD's total) (but 12x SATA ports) -> so should I change this to 10? In the dashboard there is a SHARES panel that shows a heap of disks down to Disk22. I think this relates to the above setting. Also also have this -> dynamix.apcupsd in the plugins folder. Not sure of it is being used or not? Doesn't show in the plugins tab. Can't find it in CApps either. I do have info showing in the Dashboard about my UPS, but is it coming from this plugin, or is the UPS stuff now handled directly by Unraid?

I'm on the other end. Almost time to go to bed.

I never copied the Unraid-1.key (old) to the new USB (Unraid-2) -> it already had it's own Unraid-2.key. I'll try it again tomorrow and see what happens. This ISN"T in the plugin folder? Should it be? Thanks

YES...the USB stick has been activated. I can view the GUI (both on the server monitor and across the network) I have tried to copy all the files across -> copied the WHOLE config folder, but it didn't work. Will try it again -> probably tomorrow now.

Yes...the licences are Lifetime. I have two licenses, so the USB I setup as new (Unraid-2) is working as you would expect. No need for a trial one. I do know my original USB that was in the server when it died (Unraid-1) has old files on it from previous versions. Be nice to start with a fresh install. Is it easier to copy to the old files to the fresh version USB, or the other way around? Part of me thinks copying Unraid-1 (old) to Unraid-2 (new) is the way to go, but... I don't know which files to copy? (Copying the whole config folder on to the new USB -> DOES NOT work). My old USB has 99 files, while the new one only has 56. I noticed there are a couple of extra folders on the new one as well. So...what do I do? I see I can probably alter the disk.cfg file so the array doesn't start when booting the new USB with the old files copied across. That way I can check all the disk assignments before the array is started. I don't really have anything tricky on the server. Just a few plugins (I think the fix.common.problems one has been removed) Essentially, it is just a NAS with user shares and passwords. There are probably docs somewhere that state what each file does, but I haven't found it. The help is greatly appreciated.

SUCCESS! 😁 I said to my wife last night..." I bet my config / Unraid version is too old for the network driver" (or whatever the correct terms are!) After reading your comments as well, I set about configuring my second license USB with Unraid 7.1.4 and copied my license file across and my network settings. Plugged the USB in and this time I used the blue boot panel to select GUI and after a lot of stuff posting, the GUI fired up and there was my setup in ALL it's glory! I was so happy...then I spotted the network interface in the Dashboard showing movement -> looked at the NIC port and there be lights there! Yay!!! Buzzing even more. Even more of a buzz was seeing "Healthy" on all the disks. So! Next problem -> I need to get the array started. How do I get my config over to the new setup? I already tired just copying the whole config folder, but that didn't work with both the GUI and network. So I think I will need to copy specific files -> is this possible?? I have noticed there are quite a few differences between the two (my original USB) and the new setup. Not really keen on setting up the entire server from scratch again. There have been some changes in the interface since my version and I have had a look through all the tabs and pages and there is SO much I don't remember. I find it rather scary. I have a large number of networks place on my old pc that point to various locations on the server. Like -> Movies, TV Shows, Disk 1 + etc etc. I did this so long ago I don't remember what I did to set it all up. The damn blood pressure has taken a hike today! 😐 YEP! Really sad. 😓

Thanks for the continuing help. Got the server back home today after seeing it booted to the tower login at the cmd while at the store. Thankfully, it was using my original USB, so it is booting using UEFI. I asked to see the webgui, but they were NOT interested in plugging it into their network. WHAT! 😱 You would think they'd have a laptop or something. The other issue is my USB would NOT boot into the gui when using that selection at the boot prompt. I tried a fresh install on one of my USB sticks and it booted to the password prompt. So I guess that worked, but when I copied my config over to that USB, it still would NOT boot the GUI. Something in there it doesn't like I guess. I finally got it plugged in at home tonight, only to find no network connection. There are NO lights at the nic on the back. Not sure how to proceed, because I do NOT know the commands for checking the network if I log into unraid at the cmd prompt, and I can't access the GUI for whatever reason. I can see my IP at the cmd when unraid boots and I know the network cable / connection is good because I was using it for our laptop. However, the new server does not have any lights or anything. I sure hope it's NOT a faulty nic. How should I proceed? Seems nothing ever goes right for me when computers are involved! 🤔😕

Actually...I did this before taking it into the store...and it STILL didn't boot. Does a USB that has used the make-bootable.bat file make any difference to this? I have setup one of my USB's as a new install to see if it will boot. I'm hoping it will, then I can just copy my config across. I have been using legacy ever since I set the server up. Wasn't called legacy then. So I have no experience with this EFI thing. In fact, I didn't know you could even boot into the GUI on the connected server monitor, until I saw this on the replacement build. I've always just connected via a network. I haven't messed with it much over the years. mainly because I was worried I would stuff something up and wouldn't be able to fix it. Having access to, and watching my media has always been more important that playing with a server. I had everything I needed sorted out over that time...but unfortunately, age related issues now make these memories difficult to retrieve and cognitive function is in the decline. SO...YES...compared to many of you here I am very backward 😁 -> even though I have been using Unraid and this forum for 18 years. I'm in to the store today to see how things are currently. The plan is to try and boot into the actual GUI (hopefully with one of my USB's) and see what we can see. I sure hope the HDD's have faired well in that time. I'll let you know. Thanks again.

Thanks very muchly for all the replies. It has been very helpful. I did not know this, nor obviously does the store. After reading your first post, I figured out in my own mind this is what you meant. I tried to tell them via an email this morning, but I got shut down. Appears they don't like customers telling them anything (or one's trying to help). I was emailed by them late today and told they have a new card (not sure from where yet) that they say is fully exposed in the bios and the bios is seeing all 8x HDD's in my case. It must work in UEFI mode as there is NO gpu (only integrated), which is disabled in legacy mode so I am told. I'm going in tomorrow to have a look. They have had the server a week (was meant to happen all on the same day). What a drama! When I was last in there they did have a USB booting into the Unraid option panel, but it did not appear to have the trial version activated. If they had, perhaps they would have seen all HDD's attached, even if it wasn't seen in the bios?? I'll never know. I also have NOT seen my own USB stick boot. When I was last in, it wouldn't boot the system like their trial USB. Not sure why that is?? Might have to set it up from scratch again. I am really hoping to does when I'm in tomorrow, but I plan to get a copy of their USB while I'm there. I'll let you know how I go. I've got old since I built this thing in 2007. Not up with the latest in tech (not even close). Server has been dead for about 18 months so my memory of things is rather vague and I have found the experience extremely stressful. So I really do appreciate all your replies and help. Thanks again so very much.

Can you please explain this comment more. I don't understand it? I have used the term BIOS because that is what I understand, even if the terminology is no longer valid. I think I understand the booting off the card (you would need this so the HDD attached to it would boot into WINDOZE for instance) But...what is the bios addon? Is that something inside Unraid? ...therefore the card is not initialized at boot time. But for UNRAID it does not matter at all!) -> SO...what you are saying is that we don't have to see the card in the MB setup (the bios / UEFI) -> that Unraid will see it anyway?? They ARE using a trial of Unraid on a USB. I have seen it boot into the Unraid login panel and trial screen. However, it DOES NOT appear the trial is activated? From the sound of it, this could be the problem?? I have seen the SATA expansion card is not recognised by the MB. They tell me you have to use legacy mode for the card to be recognized (This is a setting in the MB bios -> NOT Unraid legacy mode). Once the MB is switched to legacy mode in the bios, the integrated graphics is no longer available as it only works in UEFI mode (so I'm told). Here is the thing I am NOT clear on. The MB they are using ( ASUS B760M-AYW WIFI ) only has one slot, which is taken by the SATA expansion card. So how are they seeing it is recognised once in legacy mode as they no longer have any graphics output for the screen? The whole thing makes my head spin. This is the reason I used a store. However, I can only pass on what they are telling me.

Welcome to life in New Zealand -> where businesses ROB you blind! I'm currently in the position of updating my Unraid server which died last year. I have a store building it for me. They ran into a problem -> the problem is the SATA card is not recognised by the MB using UEFI mode. It is only recognised when the bios is switched to legacy mode. However, in legacy mode, there is NO integrated graphics, so a GPU has to be installed. Further, the store informed me that modern Intel MB's do NOT have a legacy mode, so the card will NOT work (found this out using the MB that was selected). So I need a card that can be seen by the MB using UEFI mode (if possible) Look, I don't know all the technical stuff. This is what I have been told.

This says it all -> SATA Expansion Card that Works in UEFI Mode? Need 6x ports. I'm in New Zealand where there are very few options apart from StarTech. I will probably need to import something. Here is the one being looked at -> Link Unfortunately, this card only appears to post using legacy mode, which also means the iGPU is NOT available. As I am trying to use an Intel MB -> I have been told they no longer have a legacy mode (not sure if this is true), so I was looking for a card that does work in UEFI mode if possible. OR, a current Intel MB that has legacy mode and at least two slots for the addition of some cheap GPU. The one in the link is a pci-e card, but I have also seen NVme port expansion cards, that may suit the task better, if they do UEFI?? Any suggestions and help would be greatly appreciated.