Noob Question - Shrink Array

[craig_read]

Apologies I just wanted to post here for some 'reassurance' my proposed approach wiill work.

 

My aim is to take 3 drives from my array, remove them all and then replace them with a single much larger drive.

 

I've read this; https://wiki.unraid.net/Shrink_array#The_.22Remove_Drives_Then_Rebuild_Parity.22_Method

 

What I've done is copy all the data from the 3 drives I wish to remove to an external.  This is done and it's all safe.

 

I am going to;

 

1. Shut down the array and shut down the box.

2. Remove the 3 drives I no longer want, install the new drive.

3. Power up the machine.

4. Go to Global Share Settings and make sure 'includes' includes all the drives I want i.e. all of them because those drives I don't want are no longer in the system.

5. Without starting the array, to go Tools and New Config.

6. Click on the Retain current configuration, select ALL. and then close.

7. If the above asks me to confirm I will.

8. Select the drives in the slots in the array that I want them to be in, then start the array.

9. Copy files from my external to the new drive using Krusader.

10. Set it rebuilding parity over the next few days.

 

Just want to sanity check my process, will this work ok?

 

Appreciate your patience with me!

 

Thanks

 

Craig

Edited April 20, 2021 by craig_read

[itimpi]

1 hour ago, craig_read said:

Apologies I just wanted to post here for some 'reassurance' my proposed approach wiill work.

 

My aim is to take 3 drives from my array, remove them all and then replace them with a single much larger drive.

 

I've read this; https://wiki.unraid.net/Shrink_array#The_.22Remove_Drives_Then_Rebuild_Parity.22_Method

 

What I've done is copy all the data from the 3 drives I wish to remove to an external.  This is done and it's all safe.

 

I am going to;

 

1. Shut down the array and shut down the box.

2. Remove the 3 drives I no longer want, install the new drive.

3. Power up the machine.

4. Go to Global Share Settings and make sure 'includes' includes all the drives I want i.e. all of them because those drives I don't want are no longer in the system.

5. Without starting the array, to go Tools and New Config.

6. Click on the Retain current configuration, select ALL. and then close.

7. If the above asks me to confirm I will.

8. Select the drives in the slots in the array that I want them to be in, then start the array.

9. Copy files from my external to the new drive using Krusader.

10. Set it rebuilding parity over the next few days.

 

Just want to sanity check my process, will this work ok?

 

Appreciate your patience with me!

 

Thanks

 

Craig

in step 4 it is better to have both includes and exclude settings empty as that means ALL anyway.    If you set explicit values and you later add another drive your would then have remember to update the setting whereas if you have left the entries blank it is automatically included.

[craig_read]

Ok so at the moment my configuration is as;

 

Enable disk shares: Auto

Enable user shares: Yes

Included disk(s): All

Excluded disk(s): None

Tunable (support Hard Links): Yes

Tunable (enable Direct IO): Auto

 

Are we saying I have to make no changes to this?

 

When I reinitialise the array with the new configuration, does the order I put the disks in (except for parity obviousl) matter?  I want to take the opportunity to re-organise the box so it's easier to know what is where, it's a bit messy.

 

So this is my plan then;

 

1. Shut down the array and shut down the box.

2. Remove the 3 drives I no longer want, install the new drive.

3. Re-organise my drives in a sensible order (physically)

4. Power up the machine.

5. Without starting the array, to go Tools and New Config.

6. Click on the Retain current configuration, select ALL. and then close.

7. If the above asks me to confirm I will.

8. Select the drives in the slots in the array that I want them to be in (different to the original order but matching how they're physically installed), then start the array.

9. Copy files from my external to the new drive using Krusader.

10. Set it rebuilding parity over the next few days.

 

Is that approach going to be ok?

Edited April 20, 2021 by craig_read

[itimpi]

Just now, craig_read said:

Ok so at the moment my configuration is as;

 

Enable disk shares: Auto

Enable user shares: Yes

Included disk(s): All

Excluded disk(s): None

Tunable (support Hard Links): Yes

Tunable (enable Direct IO): Auto

 

Are we saying I have to make no changes to this?

 

When I reinitialise the array with the new configuration, does the order I put the disks in (except for parity obviousl) matter?  I want to take the opportunity to re-organise the box so it's easier to know what is where, it's a bit messy.

Those settings look fine.  
 

When doing a New Config then you can put the data drives in any position you like as you are going to rebuild parity.    Definitely worth doing it at this point to suit how you want them to end up.

[craig_read]

Perfect.. thank you!