I have a new 2TB disk preclearing and when it's finished I'd like to replace a currently used 1TB data disk and then convert the smaller disk to a cache.

 

Are these the correct steps?

 

Stop the array

Un-assign the 1TB disk and assign the 2TB in the previously used disk number slot.

At this point I'm hoping to see "Start will bring the array on-line, start Data-Rebuild, and then expand the file system" and I'll push start.

Once the data is rebuilt on the new drive I'll preclear the old one (is this step necessary?)

stop the array and add the drive as cache

Start the array

 

Is this correct?

Thanks

Looks good. You don't need to clear you cache. You can just delete its contents.

Do I need to manually delete the files or will I be given the option to format when I add it as the cache drive?

IDK. That would be easiest. It may just accept the current format and you'll have to delete manually. A pre-clear can be run with the options to skip the pre and post reads, speeding up the process. Then it will have to be formatted.

Thanks

Seems to have gone fine. One oddity is that the data-rebuild went up to 2TB even through the drive replaced was only 1TB. I did a quick preclear of the old data drive with preclear_disk.sh -n -A /dev/sdx. When I added it as the cache drive it showed as unformatted but was added within a few minutes after I clicked format.

Seems to have gone fine. One oddity is that the data-rebuild went up to 2TB even through the drive replaced was only 1TB. I did a quick preclear of the old data drive with preclear_disk.sh -n -A /dev/sdx. When I added it as the cache drive it showed as unformatted but was added within a few minutes after I clicked format.

Every drive is logically as big as the parity drive, therefore the reconstruction of the second (non-existing) 1TB would probably have gone quickly.