Current server setup in terms of the array is 1 x  8TB as parity, 4 x 8TB data disks and 1 x 4 TB data disk.

 

I have two new 18TB disks coming and looking for the most 'efficient' way to incorporate the disks with parity rebuilding etc.

 

One of the new disks will replace my parity drive (8TB).

 

The other new disk will replace a data drive (which via unbalance can be data free) which is 8TB. There will be two remaining 8 TB data disks as part of the original array which will still have data on them.

 

I also want to shrink the array my removing the 4TB drive.

 

Can I stop the array, unassign the disks (1 x parity, 2 x data (1x 8TB and 1x 4TB)), shut down, replace and remove the drives as described above? Restart the server, assign the new 18TB disks and restart the array for parity rebuild to begin? Aim I missing something? Or do I need to do this some other way?

 

I do have another unraid server with a backup of all the array data.

 

I appreciate any input.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3, 20242 yr by Vatoe
little more info

I have answered my own question, and will leave the process here in case anyone needs to accomplish something similar in the future.

 

 

In essence, I shut down the server (after moving the data of the disks I was removing via unbalance), remove the disks, replaced two with the new ones (18TB's) and restarted. I then did the 'new config process' (found in tools tab) on the array part only. I checked to save my pool devices. Then back to main tab and reallocated the data disks (included the new one 18tb) to their slots. I left the parity for the moment as I knew I had to format the new data disk. Started the formatting of the new data disk by starting the array. Once formatted, shut down the array and added the (new 18TB) parity disk, which kicked of parity process on restarting the array. The data on remaining disks were untouched. Once the parity is complete, I plan to move some data onto the new data drive using unbalance.