Hi there,

 

I have 4 x 4tb drives at the moment (1 parity, 3 data). Not a lot on there at the moment, so all data is actually on disk 1.  I've now got some 14 tb drives to replace them all.  My plan is:

 

1) stop array,

2) new config - assign just the drive that has the data on (so no parity and the 2 x empty drives unassigned) -

3) start array

3) Shutdown server. 

4) Physically replace parity drive and the 2 empty data drives with the 14tb drives

5) Start server

6) New config - and assign a 14tb to the parity slot, and the other 2 x 14tb's as disks 2 and 3 (so ive still got the 4tb drive in disk1) - dont start parity rebuild

7) Unbalance copy the data from disk 1 (old 4tb) to disk 2 (new 14tb)

8 ) stop array - new config, and assign the remaining 14tb to disk1

9) start array and parity rebuild

 

I know i will be without parity for a while but thats not a problem.

 

Is this sort of right?

Thanks in advance

Edited December 23, 20205 yr by pballs

It will work, though no need to assign parity if you're not going to sync it, assign it only in the end.

That should work, but seems awfully convoluted.

 

Since you don't care about parity until you are done, why not...

1. Shut down.

2. Do the drive dance, physically put ALL the drives where you eventually want them, the existing drive with data can be connected to any physical location.

3. New Config, assign final drive 1 in first data slot, assign existing data drive to second data slot, don't assign anything else. Make sure only disk1 is unformatted, let it format.

4. COPY data from drive 2 to drive 1. That way you have a backup.

5. Shut down.

6. Remove 4TB

7. Power up, new config, assign everything where it goes, build parity.

 

That way you limit the number of times you are physically and logically reassigning drives.

Or just leave the drive with data on it unassigned, assign everything else as you want, copy the data from the unassigned disk. You could assign and build parity after copy for speed or before copy for protection. 

Thanks all, swapped drives, new config, currently rebuilding parity (18 hours to go)