Hi,

 

Another rather simple question...

 

How do completely format the data drives and clean slate start everything? I testing things out and generally make a mess of my builds (on purpose) and I am nearing the point where I am ready to settle down, format and use the box. I can easily enough format the usb stick but the drives are giving me trouble (feel like I am missing something....)

 

After the initial format I cant seem to get the Tower:80 to let me format the drives again via the webgui. Suggestions? Or is this only something that can be done through unMenu?

 

thanks,

~dpc

Hi,

 

Another rather simple question...

 

How do completely format the data drives and clean slate start everything? I testing things out and generally make a mess of my builds (on purpose) and I am nearing the point where I am ready to settle down, format and use the box. I can easily enough format the usb stick but the drives are giving me trouble (feel like I am missing something....)

 

After the initial format I cant seem to get the Tower:80 to let me format the drives again via the webgui. Suggestions? Or is this only something that can be done through unMenu?

 

thanks,

~dpc

You can do it on the command line.

 

to "format" a drive, the command would be

mkreiserfs /dev/sdX1

(where sdX = the correct name for your device)

 

Note, the "1" on the end of the device name.  This is because you are formatting the first partition on the drive.  Also note, the drive must FIRST be partitioned to use this command to format the first partition.    Easiest way to partition the disk is to use the preclear_disk.sh script on it.

 

Joe L.

Easiest way to partition the disk is to use the preclear_disk.sh script on it.

So put an extra disk in and wanted to wipe it clean, partition it, and then format it.

 

I did:

preclear_sh -z /dev/sdc (this wiped it clean -specifically clear the identifying mbr)

 

and then went to preclear_sh -n /dev/sdc

which skipped some of the steps but still started zeroing out the drive - I dont want that! Too much time.

 

So is there a switch that will just partition the disk? Seems stupid to preclear a disk I dont care about to just add a partition to it...

 

thanks,

~dpc

The drive must be zeroed unless you want to recalculate parity. If you want to format all of the drives and recalculate parity. Unassign all of the drives. Enter "initconfig" on the command line. "preclear -z" each data drive. On the web GUI, assign the data drives and let unraid format them then assign and build parity.

Easiest way to partition the disk is to use the preclear_disk.sh script on it.

So put an extra disk in and wanted to wipe it clean, partition it, and then format it.

 

I did:

preclear_sh -z /dev/sdc (this wiped it clean -specifically clear the identifying mbr)

 

and then went to preclear_sh -n /dev/sdc

which skipped some of the steps but still started zeroing out the drive - I dont want that! Too much time.

 

So is there a switch that will just partition the disk? Seems stupid to preclear a disk I dont care about to just add a partition to it...

 

thanks,

~dpc

There is a small script I had posted to do just that.  I think it is named unraid_partition_disk.sh

A search should find it attached to one of my posts in the "announcement" thread.

 

In the newest 5.0beta6a release, Tom has included a similar utility to fix the MBR (which effectively partitions the drive as unRAID would)

 

Joe L.

I'm not sure why "formatting" is considered necessary to clear a drive. Simply deleting any files and folders on the drive clears it. Use the preclear with the -z will clear the MBR which then forces unRAID to recreate the partition and allow you to format the drive again.

 

I think maybe you should have done some more testing/checking/playing with the test array, specifically adding new drives to an existing array. It might have helped you understand what must happen to add a disk to an existing array. To add a new drive to an existing array and keep the parity valid you have to either use the preclear script to clear the drive or let unRAID clear it. The unRAID clearing happens with the array off-line and inaccessible. The other option is to invalidate parity (initconfig) and let parity be rebuilt.

 

There are options to skip the pre-read and post-read parts of the preclear script, cutting the completion time to about 1/3 of a full run. I can't recall offhand but just typing "preclear_disk.sh" at the prompt should output the help.

 

Peter