Disk seen in bios and also in tools->system devices. However, it's not available for the cache pool

[ecogeek]

I have two 128G SSD drives that I'm using for cache.  (I know it's not a lot, but it's what I have).   The bios sees them and Tools->system devices sees them.  /dev/sda and dev/sdb  However, I'm only allowed to use one of them for my cache.  (It can change too.  I recently rebooted and it used sda and previously it used sdb)

 

How can I get it to use both so I can have redundancy in my cache?  Thanks! 

tower-diagnostics-20230819-2359.zip

[itimpi]

Have you checked that the number of slots for the cache pool is set to 2 and that the file system is set to be btrfs (or ZFS if using the 6.12.x release).   

 

What happens when you try to assign the second drive?

 

FYI:   The sdX type designations are irrelevant as Unraid recognises disks by their serial number.

[ecogeek]

I was pretty sure it was two, but I double checked and it is indeed set to two.

 

It is BTRFS.

 

It just says unassigned and doesn't have an option to add the other drive.

 

 

I get that, but it was relevant for showing that it physically saw the drive.  

[JorgeB]

Aug 19 16:42:31 Tower emhttpd: device /dev/sda problem getting id

 

This means there's a duplicate ID, this can happen with some USB bridges, they don't pass-through the device's complete ID and serial number, you'll need use a different one (at least for one of the devices) or use SATA.

[ecogeek]

So try plugging it into a different usb slot?  Or I wonder if I'll always get this because the drives are the same kind and if its not getting the complete ID it wont' work at all?

 

In any case I'll try a different port.  Unfortunately without moving the usb stick with the OS on it, I only have one other free port.  But it is on the front so that might be different enough.  I'll report back.

Edited August 20, 2023 by ecogeek

[trurl]

USB not recommended for pools or array for many reasons, including the problem you are experiencing.

[ecogeek]

Well that didn't work. 

 

Am I just stuck with an SSD I can't use?

[trurl]

1 hour ago, JorgeB said:

use SATA

 

[ecogeek]

11 minutes ago, trurl said:

 

I don't have a sata port available to I'm going to have to find a better or different USB enclosure unfortunately

[trurl]

16 minutes ago, ecogeek said:

different USB enclosure

 

50 minutes ago, trurl said:

USB not recommended for pools or array for many reasons, including the problem you are experiencing.

 

[JorgeB]

1 hour ago, ecogeek said:

So try plugging it into a different usb slot?

It's not the USB slot, you'd need a different USB to SATA adapter.

[ecogeek]

29 minutes ago, JorgeB said:

It's not the USB slot, you'd need a different USB to SATA adapter.

This is what I'm going to try.  First I'm going to try a two slot enclosure and if that doesn't work, a different brand of single for one of the drives.  

[ecogeek]

That worked.  I got an enclosure that takes both drives and puts it in one usb spot.  I'm good, that was it.

[trurl]

Don't be surprised if you experience additional problems if you continue to use USB for pools or array.