Hi all. Attempting to build my first Unraid server. I am converting from a windows Plex server I've hosted for 12 or so years. I bought (2) brand new 18TB HDD for parity and a 1TB NVME for cache. I installed my first data drive (8TB) and started the array just to tinker around before I add the rest of the 15 or 16 data drives. It got 15 mins into parity creation and I noticed that the data drive and the NVME have Unmountable errors. The 8TB data drive: "Unmountable: Unsupported partition layout" The NVME cache drive "Unsupported or no file system".

 

I beleive I should not format the data drive or I will lose all the files, but do not know what to do. I paused the parity creation. I don't mind formatting the cache drive, as it should be empty.

 

How do I add my existing data drives from my Windows server? I'm guessing they will all have this error. Searching the forum it seems others with this issue had empty drives, so formatting wasn't a problem. Thx

Unraid doesn't support Windows filesystems for assigned disks. 

 

You can read and write Windows filesystems as Unassigned Devices with the Unassigned Devices plugin. 

 

If you want those disks in the array they will have to be reformated to one of the Linux filesystems supported by Unraid. 

 

You could copy a Windows disk to the array and then reuse it as an Unraid disk. 

 

Do you have backups of anything important and irreplaceable? 

Ok, thanks for your reply. I guess I’m confused at how it all works. So what do others do? Buy an empty drive and move all the files over one drive at a time? How is it going to “see” the files? This will take weeks to move and then create parity for my (15) large HDDs 😅

Attached are my Windows data drives. I have (3) empty 8TB HDDs (one is not installed in the screenshot). Can I move them to the array, format them correctly, and them move data drives over one at a time (creating a new "blank" drive each time)? I have a few 18TB data HDDs. Will the 24TBs I create allow me to move those larger drives, or do I need to buy a new empty 18TB?

 

What is the easiest way to move my Windows files into the array? Over the network?

Thanks for your help!

1 hour ago, trurl said:

You can read and write Windows filesystems as Unassigned Devices with the Unassigned Devices plugin.

 

I'm not understanding, my apologies. But thinking I should do everything the traditional way. Will doing the above allow me full functionality? Or is it just a way to move the files from one system/formatting to another?

 

I'm BRAND NEW to this, sorry

 

Thanks!

You can create an Unraid array with the current empty drives, format them with Unraid, then mount a Windows disk with UD, copy the data over, now add that empty disk to the array, repeat for the next ones.

Thank you! Do you think it is usually faster (and/or easier) transferring via UD versus over the network?

Depends on the network, could be a little faster if gigabit, you can also use UD to mount a Windows share and transfer over LAN.

Ok, thx. I'll tinker with both methods when I get to that point again.

So now I've got a new issue. Because of the unmountable drive above, I removed the data drive and installed a empty 8TB drive as discussed above (and planned to add (2) more empty drives). I needed to reset my array/setup, because I was no longer using the Windows-formatted drive. I used Tools>New Config to reset it and had to do a reboot (twice for some reason, as it seemed to get stuck on boot). I started the new array and the parity check speed is dropping to nearly nothing (currently 70 KB/s) it ran at over 200MB/s when I did the original array. Canceling parity check seems to freeze (Unraid symbol moving, but not canceling)

 

Having a heck of a time. any help would be appreciated. Thx

 

EDIT: After multiple reboots and unplugging SATA power and data, it seems like speeds have returned. Thank you both for your willingness to help and teach!

Edited July 2, 20242 yr by wdpaynter
Additional info

1 hour ago, wdpaynter said:

I started the new array and the parity check speed is dropping to nearly nothing (currently 70 KB/s) it ran at over 200MB/s when I did the original array.

That's usually a power/connection issue

Yeah, seems like the SATA cables were finicky. The final build will be using SAS breakouts, just waiting on my case. Thx!