June 30, 201115 yr Well, I've read the Wiki, FAQ's, watched the videos and I'm still don't completely understand what I'm doing here. I just purchased the hardware to build my own unRAID server which gets delivered tomorrow. I'm trying to find the best way to make the transition from my NAS to my new unRAID setup and I'm at a loss. Currently I have a Synology NAS with 2 x 3TB HDD's in RAID 1. I want to move the drives and associated data to the new unRAID setup. I also purchased one additional 2TB drive which should arrive tomorrow. What is the best way to get the data to the unRAID server? There is currently about 2TB of space used on the NAS currently. I was thinking I could break the array on the NAS and use the 3TB drive for the unRAID system. Once the drive is formatted I could just copy the data over the network to the unRAID server. Would that be the best way? Or maybe just format all the drives and then restore from my backup? Provided that's even possible with an EXT4 formatted external HDD. I'm not sure I want to do that because once all the drives are formatted, I would be using my only viable copy of the data. If anything went wrong during the recovery process I would be in bad shape. I have a backup of the data on an external HDD so if anything blows up when the array is broken, it's not a huge deal. Then once the data is moved, add the other 2 drives to the array. I also found out, after purchasing the system, that 3TB aren't supported yet. Would anyone recommend that I try out the 5.0beta or not since I have no clue what I'm doing yet. Additionally, is there a way to format and preclear a drive? I thought I could start one of the 3TB drives this evening and it would be all ready to go tomorrow when I get the system built.
June 30, 201115 yr I copied my data over the network (gigabit of course) I had just over 2TB to move I started the copy at some point during the evening, I don't remember exactly when. The next day when I woke up it was already done. I felt better doing it this way since I could be sure my data was safe during the change over. I played with the new data for several days, when I was comfortable that everything was transfered I pulled the drives from the old WHS to add to UnRaid. Oh, I should qualify this by saying I moved the data with NO PARITY drive installed or the transfer would have taken much longer. Sorry I cannot answer the preclear questions as I have not done this yet myself. When I get back home preclear is going to be the next thing installed on the server so I can add the old drives back into the mix.
June 30, 201115 yr Author Pre-clear: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0 Doesn't that just apply to pre-clearing a drive within unRAID? I was asking about doing it from within windows to get a head start since my parts won't be here until tomorrow evening.
June 30, 201115 yr Pre-clear: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0 Doesn't that just apply to pre-clearing a drive within unRAID? I was asking about doing it from within windows to get a head start since my parts won't be here until tomorrow evening. This is not possible.
June 30, 201115 yr Author Ok, that's what I figured, but wanted to ask anyway. Does my work flow seem correct? Assemble Hardware Create unRAID flash drive Break current RAID 1 array Install 3TB & 2TB HDD in unRAID Server Run pre-clear script according to instructions on both drives at the same time Copy, over the network, all data from surviving member of broken RAID 1 array Test new unRAID server for a couple days Add other 3TB HDD as parity drive What would you recommend I do about the lack support for the 3TB HDD's I have? I read this, but it didn't help very much based on my lack of knowledge about unRAID. http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=11183.0
June 30, 201115 yr Ok, that's what I figured, but wanted to ask anyway. Does my work flow seem correct? Assemble Hardware Create unRAID flash drive Break current RAID 1 array Install 3TB & 2TB HDD in unRAID Server Run pre-clear script according to instructions on both drives at the same time Copy, over the network, all data from surviving member of broken RAID 1 array Test new unRAID server for a couple days Add other 3TB HDD as parity drive What would you recommend I do about the lack support for the 3TB HDD's I have? personally. I'd assign parity before transferring the data. Yes, it will be slower, but it will also allow unRAID to re-construct and re-allocate a disk block it cannot read on your brand new data disk. Otherwise, you'll never learn of the inability to read back what you've written until you go to initially calculate parity. From what you've described, you might not have your original drive to get back to a good copy of the data as it will already be re-purposed in the unRAID server. The 3TB drives are supported in 5.0beta7, although it does not currently recognize a pre-clear signature that allows you to add one incrementally after initially establishing parity without it clearing the drive again, even if pre-cleared. It is my understanding that 5.0beta8 will be out very shortly... as the elusive bug that caused occasional random parity errors when adding a drive has been identified, and that was holding it up. It should have the pre-cleared disk recognition fixed.
June 30, 201115 yr In addition to the good advice by Joe. From a operating standpoint, I'd keep the Syno running, you can use it in combination with the unRAID setup to provide all the functional benefits of DSM 3.1 over the unRAID interface (just mount the unRAID drives via nfs) I'm assuming you are attempting to reduce costs by using the Syno 3TB drives in your unRAID server. To minimize potential issues...I would purchase another 2TB drive, preclear both 2TB drives, assign parity....and then copy over the 2TB of the data from the Syno. Keeping the Syno also allows you to keep another copy of critical documents (rsync etc). Then as you progress...upgrade to 3TB.
June 30, 201115 yr One option would be: •Install 3TB & 2TB HDD in unRAID Server 3TB as parity and 2TB as data Copy data over with parity as Joe said. •Add other 3TB HDD as parity drive Add that as data. I'm not sure on on as much of the exact details of the 3TB drives as I'm not running 5.0beta at the moment but if anyone else wants to chime in that would be the path I'd take. Option 2: Buy another 2TB hdd, use one as parity and one as data, copy the 2TB of data over and leave your other NAS as is for a while. Run version 4.7 until 5 is out of beta and then add your 3TB drives. Josh
June 30, 201115 yr Author Now I think I'm really confused. As far as the Synology goes, I have 2 x 1TB Caviar black drives I was going to reinstall after removing the 3TB drives. Maybe I should install those along with the 2TB I just bought in the unRAID server for now, until the 3TB drives are supported. But that would only give me 2TB of useable space until v5 comes out of beta. The problem is that I'm mid stream in ripping my BluRays 1:1 and I'm burning through space like crazy. I wanted to keep rolling without having to spend more money. I don't know how much the wife will allow seeing as how this is my 3rd build in the last couple weeks. New i7 desktop, ITX HTPC and now the unRAID server. She might kill me if any more boxes show up from NewEgg. Is there a straight forward walk through for stepping down the 3TD drives to 2TB? I read the thread and got lost in the confusion.
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