Hi,

 

currently I have a config with 9 drives à 4TB (with 2 as parity) and I want to move to 3 drives à 16TB as to have a better upgrade path in the future. Now to my question, since I couldn't really find a conclusive answer: what's the best way to go about this?

 

An idea I had was to use a second PC with a new UNRAID install where I create the config for the 3 drives, then I copy everything over network from the main server to this temporary one. After that's done I figured that could be the way of migration:

 

1. Power down the main server
2. Remove all 4TB drives
3. Add the three 16TB drives
4. Power on and create a new config
5. Add the 3 drives in the same way as they were in the temp PC (regarding parity and data drives)
6. Start array
7. ????
8. Profit

 

Could this work? What's the preferred way of doing this?

 

Thanks and BR!

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by rinukkusu

I would swap them one at a time.  **Method involves 3 parity rebuilds**

1. Identify a single drive to upgrade.

2. Stop the array.

3. Unassign drive that you are replacing 

4. Shutdown system.

5. Remove old drive and replace with new one.

6. Turn on system.

7. Assign new drive.

8. Turn on array.

9. Allow parity to rebuild it.

Do that for each drive.

 

GL

Thanks for your reply - how do I get the data from all old drives to the new drives with your proposed method? With a parity rebuild I'd only get 4TB of data of the old drive.

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by rinukkusu

Ok I think I misunderstood.  You are trying to go from 9 drives to 3... Ignore what I posted.  Give me a few min to think this through.

Question: what size are your parity drives?  They need to be the largest.  I only use a single parity and I gather that's what most people do.  Might consider that.

Is the final configuration going to be parity + 3 16T drives?

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by Veah

Yeah, correct - I want to do a complete makeover

 

Current setup: 2 parity, 7 data (all 4TB)
My new setup to be: 1 parity, 2 data (all 16TB)

 

As I go, I will probably add a new data drive and then again a second parity drive, but that's in the future

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by rinukkusu

I think I have it.  Had to take mine offline to double check what I am saying.

 

First remove the second parity drive by stopping the array and unassigning it. 

Your current state will be 1 parity + 7-4TB drives

 

Edit:

Swap out parity drive to 16TB drive.  Let it rebuild.

Your current state will be 1 rebuilt 16TB parity + 7-4TB drives

 

Swap out Disk 1 in your array using the steps I mentioned in first post. 

Your current state will be 1 rebuilt 16TB parity + 1-16TB + 6-4TB drives.

 

Swap out Disk 2 in your array using the steps I mentioned in first post. 

Your current state will be 1 rebuilt 16TB parity + 2-16TB + 5-4TB drives.

 

Get the Unbalance app

 

Use the Unbalance to move all your data from Disks 3-7 to Disk 1 and 2.

Your current state will be 1 rebuilt 16TB parity + 2 16TB + 5-4TB drives (Disks 3-7 being empty)

 

Properly disable and remove Disks 3-7

Your Final state will be 1 rebuilt 16TB parity + 2-16TB drives.

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by Veah

Ah, thanks - I heard about the Unbalance App! When swapping out the single disks I will probably need to let it sync in between each swap, right? (to rebuild the data on it)

Edited July 8, 20232 yr by rinukkusu

Yes.  Each time a disk changes you need to let it rebuild.  After adding the first 16TB drive, your rebuild time is going to go through the roof.  If you are in a hurry to be complete, there are probably better methods out there.