Hello,

I am done with building the server and was able to boot it, install unMenu. I did not initialize any drives yet. Here is my config:

Samsung 2TB HD204UI - one quantity - planning on using for for parity

HITACHI Deskstar 5K3000 2TB - two quantity - planning on using for data

I am planning to getting additional Deskstar for Cache. Before I proceed, few questions:

1. Is preclearing needed? I do not have a UPS yet and I am concerened about starting a 30 hour task without one.

2. If I decide to add a cache drive, should I add it before the preclear process? or can I continue with the preclear process now and add a cache drive later in the week?

Please suggest. Thanks.

A pre-clear isn't required, but highly highly highly recommended - you won't find too many users here that would trust their data to an untested hard disk.

 

A UPS is highly recommended also - people have some issues after power surges. But unless you have a concern of a power outage in the next two days, I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

The cache drive can be added at any point - I put mine in a few weeks after my initial setup.

Thanks... I have a UPS downstairs serving my a Windows machine - I shall plug it in and shall start the preclear process. Thanks for the advice.

Thanks... I have a UPS downstairs serving my a Windows machine - I shall plug it in and shall start the preclear process. Thanks for the advice.

Before I start the preclear, should I set the disks to 4K-aligned or leave them unaligned?

Thanks...

Yes - you should do both these drives as 4K-aligned (use the -A option).

 

You can get the latest version of preclear here.  No - it's not included with the standard distribution of UnRaid

I thought the -A option wasn't required if in the unRAID "settings" menu you preset this.

Am I mistaken?

 

I thought the -A option wasn't required if in the unRAID "settings" menu you preset this.

Am I mistaken?

 

 

You are correct and that is does not need to be specified if you have it set the correct way in the unRAID webGUI.

 

I always specify the the option though... just to make sure I get what I intended.

In absence of a switch to the contrary, preclear will follow the alignment in settings. So if you have already set it as aligned in there, you don't need to respecify it when running preclear.

4k-aligned or unaligned both work equally well for any disk that is not advanced format. So, there is no reason not to use the 4k aligned all the time. Then, the only think to remember is to never use jumpers on an Western Digital EARS drive.

 

You will be using the preclear script to burn-in the drives. A new array will always go through a parity build when you assign disks and press start the first time. The preclear will make adding a new future data drive very quick with little array down-time.

 

You can add a cache drive at any time. Once again, the preclear is really used as a burn-in for a cache drive.

 

The new preclear script does recognize the unRAID alignment setting so you can just run it.

 

Peter

 

I always specify the the option though... just to make sure I get what I intended.

You are always informed by the preclear script about how it will partition the drive before you confirm your desire to preclear it.  Even if the setting was not as desired you can always just not answer "Yes" and re-submit with the desired partition setting.  Additionally, once pre-cleared, if not yet assigned to the array, you can convert the partition alignment in a few seconds using the "-C 64" or "-C 63" options.

Additionally, once pre-cleared, if not yet assigned to the array, you can convert the partition alignment in a few seconds using the "-C 64" or "-C 63" options.

 

Joe thinks of everything to make life easy for us mere mortals!