Move files from smaller disks to new large disk

[hallamnet]

Hi All.

 

I have recently bought a new 18TB drive to replace an aged (8 year old) 6TB drive and looking to consolidate the amount of disks I have (Currently 11 drives).

 

My question is this: - So looking to move files from older drives to new 18TB drive. What what be the best way to accomplish this.

 

I am sorry if this has been answered before but having a bit of a search in General support, I could not find what I was looking for.

 

Thanks,

 

Hal.

[JorgeB]

You can format the new drive with UD, copy the data from the disks you want, then do a new config with it and without the old disks and resync parity.

[hallamnet]

On 8/11/2024 at 10:25 PM, JorgeB said:

You can format the new drive with UD, copy the data from the disks you want, then do a new config with it and without the old disks and resync parity.

 

 

Hi @JorgeB and thanks for the reply.

 

Before I requested this on the forum, I had already installed the new 18TB drive to replace the oldest one in the array and the Parity rebuilt. Now want to move files from other disks to my new larger drive. Still quite new to unRAID and don't want to loose my data. I do have a backup but don't want to have to initiate it. 

 

Could you list what steps I would need to complete to keep all of my files intact. Reading the info message, sounds like there is a fair bit that could go wrong with the New Config tool.

 

Thanks,

 

Hal  

[hallamnet]

Also, for moving the files from one disk to another, will I be ok just using Krusader to move folder from left to right. Do I need to do anything more once these are moved or will the array 'just know' they have been moved and will be accessible once again. 

 

I know I will have to action the new config from what you advise and will still wait for your reply regarding that. 

 

Thanks again,

 

Hal 
 

Edited August 13 by hallamnet

[JorgeB]

Just to make sure I understand what you want to do, please detail which is the source and destination disks, and if they are in the array or not.

[hallamnet]

Hi there. I have replaced one 8 year old 6tb drive with a 18tb drive and parity has been rebuilt with this change. I now want to retire/remove from the array some of my older smaller drives and move the data that was located on these drives to the 18TB drive and then permanently remove the older drives. So I will be essentially going from 11 drives to 8 drives if I can. 

 

I do have a backup. My setup consists of 2 unRAID hosts with exact replicas of data on both but I don't really want to have to start from scratch if I can help it. 

 

I hope this is clear and I will await you reply. 

 

Thanks,

 

Hal 

Edited August 17 by hallamnet

[JorgeB]

You can use unbalanced (or the mover if you update to v7.0.0-beta) to move the data from the disks you want to remove to other ones, then do a new config and re--sync parity with the remaining disks.

[hallamnet]

Awesome Stuff. Thanks for the quick support! I will give this ago at some point today!  

[hallamnet]

Hi JorgeB.

 

I have now managed to move all of the files to other drives that I need to keep and have stopped the Array. 

 

I have clicked on to Settings>New Config and I have options to Preserve current assignments: and have the option for Array Slots and Pool slots. I am assuming I need these all ticked. Could you please confirm this before I continue?  

 

 

[itimpi]

1 minute ago, hallamnet said:

Hi JorgeB.

 

I have now managed to move all of the files to other drives that I need to keep and have stopped the Array. 

 

I have clicked on to Settings>New Config and I have options to Preserve current assignments: and have the option for Array Slots and Pool slots. I am assuming I need these all ticked. Could you please confirm this before I continue?  

 

 

It is up to you, but when removing disks it is easier (and less error prone) to tick both options and then return to the Main tab to remove the disks that are no longer wanted in the array,

[hallamnet]

Sorted! 

 

Thanks for the help on this. As you can understand, I was a little nervous doing this for the first time being a new user and all but my parity is now syncing through. Going to take a while to do 18TB.

But thanks very much for the support! The response time for the replies and support have been better than other paid for support offerings. What more can we ask for!