37 minutes ago, MHzTweaker said:

add the 2 parity drives but since they are recycled from their previous life in a Windows server, they are GPT partitioned.

I want to repartition them and format them as XFS

Parity has no file system. Just assign them and start the array to being parity build.

Begin by googling unraid.net getting rid of gpt partition and you will see that it is what is to be expected in most cases.

It should be noted that parity drives for Unraid are not formatted. They only contain the calculated parity information for every byte of storage of all of the other drives!.

https://docs.unraid.net/unraid-os/getting-started/what-is-unraid/#arrays-and-parity

Expand this section and read:

You should be able to simply assign both drives as parity drives and start the array.

IF not, post up any error messages--Screenshots are always nice!

Edited March 28Mar 28 by Frank1940

Okay, I will leave well enough alone.

I brought everything back up and started the parity sync on both parity drives for my backup unRAID server. In 28 hours, all should be well.

I actually have built a 3rd unRAID array from the drive leftovers of the first two Windows servers which should in the end have about 100TB with just one parity drive.

I have started it as a 72TB array initially until I finish dumping stuff off an 18TB and a 24TB drive on to the new array.

Once complete, I will expand the array using the 18TB and another 14TB drive and then use the 24TB as parity for this array.

This will be my first test of learning how to expand an existing array, hopefully without trashing the existing data. Fingers crossed.

Going back to why this thread was initially created, I have adjusted my expectations and learned some of the strengths and weaknesses of unRAID.

I must say the pluses vastly outweigh any negatives. The way I was using Windows Server 2019, I didn't have ANY parity, just single drive sized volumes which was a pain in the ass from the very beginning. I know Win Server 2025 can do drive pools but is still a royal pain. Having both one large array, the ability to expand it easily and NOW hot swap drive trays is end game life changing stuff for me. If not careful, Linux will replace Windows on many of my desktops as well. I spend too much time stripping out the Microsoft crap apps, AI slop, telemetry and data harvesting. Then I worry about new garbage showing up every Patch Tuesday.

I am wondering if there is a setting that encourages drives (especially in the BACKUP server) to spin down. Technically I only need the backup server drives running long enough to sync Main Server contents in the middle of the night.

Edited March 28Mar 28 by MHzTweaker

59 minutes ago, MHzTweaker said:

I am wondering if there is a setting that encourages drives (especially in the BACKUP server) to spin down. Technically I only need the backup server drives running long enough to sync Main Server contents in the middle of the night.

See here:

Many thanks @Frank1940

1 hour ago, MHzTweaker said:

hot swap drive trays

Even if the hardware supports hot swap, Unraid won't do anything with the new drive until you assign it, and you can't assign a drive without stopping the array. If you do hot swap, be careful to not disturb any other disks.

@trurl my pair of 24 bay chassis' have each tray labeled with a number. I have a chart of each tray number and which drive is in it using recorded serial numbers. Each array has the drives arranged ascending by tray number location so it's easy to go right to the exact drive in question. The parity drives are in the bottom 2 trays away from the array drives.

I have zero plans on disturbing any existing array drive unless they develop S.M.A.R.T. errors and the health declines. They're installed until death do they depart. I can literally more than double each array size before running out of trays. It's taken me almost 20 years to fill up 140TB which includes a LOT of older content. I am not sure there will be enough new stuff during the remainder of my life to exceed 400+TB. I believe I have my end game setup unless they start making cheap 500TB SSD drives.

4 hours ago, MHzTweaker said:

I am not sure there will be enough new stuff during the remainder of my life to exceed 400+TB.

Thats room for lots and lots of linux distros.

@Veah I am not sure I want to get started on collecting distros. The fact that I have this much of an digital entertainment media hoard is just one symptom of my illness. The last time I went down such a rabbit hole was in 2016 with a simple Sony TC-K870ES cassette deck. Five years later I have over 120 of the things!

However, 120 Linux distros would certainly take up far less physical space than 120 cassette decks.

Oh, it seems that spinning down the drives saves me about 50% in electricity costs of running each box. So, in about 58 years I will have saved enough money on the power bill to pay for these upgrades. Nice 😉

So... How long does it take to back up 200TB to cassette? 😜

OMG, what is wrong with this forum software!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

I have typed multiple very long messages of a critical nature with many details only to have my entire message erased when I attach a photo!!!!! Dammit

I need to walk away for a while.... This is a reoccurring problem with this forum software..... I have nothing but expletives in my mouth right now....

backupserver-smart-20260401-1732.zip

Edited April 1Apr 1 by MHzTweaker

I have a drive in my BACKUP server array showing smart erros

I want to remove a drive from my 3rd unRAID server array that doesn't yet have any data on it and place it in the array with the failing drive replacing the drive with errors.

I don't know how to properly remove a drive from an array and make the array whole again without the missing drive. There's no SHARE data on the 3rd server drive but there IS share data on the 2nd unRAID server drive that needs to be put back on the replacement drive.

Sorry lost it above...

11 minutes ago, MHzTweaker said:

remove a drive from an array and make the array whole again without the missing drive

Removing disks from array | Unraid Docs

There may come a time when you want to remove a disk from your Unraid array. Whether you're looking to save on power, retire an old or unreliable drive, or repurpose hardware for a different use, the

13 minutes ago, MHzTweaker said:

I have a drive in my BACKUP server array showing smart erros

Yes, it failed self-test so must be replaced.

Okay, so far I have managed to extract the not yet filled with data 14TB drive from my 3rd unRAID server and used the "New Config" preserve current assignments to relaunch the old array minus the unfilled 14TB drive. I am about to introduce a parity drive to that array and start the SYNC this morning.

On to the real problem child. I brought the BACKUP server down, replaced the ailing 14TB drive with a like 14TB drive I just removed from the 3rd server. I started the BACKUP server then assigned the new drive to replace the failed one, then started the array in Maintenance mode to speed the rebuild. If all goes well, in 15-16 hours the array will be healthy again.

Now back to what it really going on....

I pulled the ailing drive and put it in a dock on my PC and ran HD Sentinel.

The drive seems to have 8 weak sectors after 1956 days of ON time. So the drive isn't DEAD but health is starting to decline. Technically data should still be good but ADMIN BEWARE, use at your own risk. The deed is done. Thankfully I had a drive I could quickly swap in there.

Now on to some really disturbing news. As of right now drives at and above 10TB are either difficult to find or criminally expensive!!! I just checked on a 14TB new replacement. It seems those drives are at or near $600 which is more than I paid for my bundle of new 26TB drives in November 2025. 26TB drives are now around $900 each. Ouch! I am regretting not buying a few spares for the shelf.

A.I. demand is the excuse given for rising disk and memory prices.

Preclear might get those pending sectors converted to reallocated sectors. Then you can see if it will pass an extended self-test.

Yes, I am in the I.T. industry and noticed pricing shenanigans starting in late August 2025. By late September I was advising many clients to get off the fence concerning new build-outs. Some listened, some didn't. Most in the news reporting sector were predicting the same for SSD's and HDDs. There was still channel stock of HDDs last November so I bought up 10 of them, some NVMe drives and a few sticks of RAM. I'm feeling completely justified right now. My platforms are not more than 1 generation older than current and are plenty fast enough for me.

I will give preclear a look-see once this Parity sync finishes by tomorrow morning. If I can find that the drive is stable for a few months by itself I may use it for something rather that toss what is now an almost $600 drive. thanks, good advice.

On 3/29/2026 at 9:53 AM, MHzTweaker said:

@Veah "So, in about 58 years I will have saved enough money on the power bill to pay for these upgrades. Nice" 😉

This made Me chuckle. Thanks!

21 hours ago, MHzTweaker said:

OMG, what is wrong with this forum software!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

I have typed multiple very long messages of a critical nature with many details only to have my entire message erased when I attach a photo!!!!! Dammit

I need to walk away for a while.... This is a reoccurring problem with this forum software..... I have nothing but expletives in my mouth right now....

backupserver-smart-20260401-1732.zip

Before this gets out of hand; I want to point You to the proper department for issues with the forum software: https://www.invisioncommunity.com/ I dont like seeing Unraid take a beating because of the software they didnt create. If You have a problem with the Unraid software; Unraid will get You sorted out in a hurry.

• Regards

To be honest, I don't feel like I did any "beating". I expressed a concern in the heat of trying to relay my issues and ask a question. By this time, this was at least the 4th or 5th time this message deletion has happened. I realize this may of may NOT be of unRAIDs doing or control, still I felt it relevant enough to mention it, then I let it go. I mostly wanted to see quickly if anyone knew if it was something I was doing wrong when attaching a photo after typing multi paragraph messages. While I use all sort of parts and pieces to get various problems solved, it is up to me to make sure the quality of those things (that others manufacture) are up to the task. These are just my opinions, I do not expect anyone to agree with them nor do I want a debate here due to the borderline irrelevancy to solving issues. I am moving on and will post photos by themselves from now on.

Edited April 2Apr 2 by MHzTweaker

1 hour ago, MHzTweaker said:

To be honest, I don't feel like I did any "beating". I expressed a concern in the heat of trying to relay my issues and ask a question. By this time, this was at least the 4th or 5th time this message deletion has happened. I realize this may of may NOT be of unRAIDs doing or control, still I felt it relevant enough to mention it, then I let it go. I mostly wanted to see quickly if anyone knew if it was something I was doing wrong when attaching a photo after typing multi paragraph messages. While I use all sort of parts and pieces to get various problems solved, it is up to me to make sure the quality of those things (that others manufacture) are up to the task. These are just my opinions, I do not expect anyone to agree with them nor do I want a debate here due to the borderline irrelevancy to solving issues. I am moving on and will post photos by themselves from now on.

No, no, no, I wasnt talking to You specifically. I was putting a block on anyone else You might draw to this thread who would want to complain about the forum. If You do a search You will see other people who has commented on something that they didnt like or that was broken with the forum and pointed that towards Unraid. I just wanted to clear up that Unraid doesnt control the forum software's features/abilites and probably would have to contact the forum software owners the same as we all would.

• I hope this clears up the confusion.

• Regards

On 4/1/2026 at 5:56 PM, MHzTweaker said:

when I attach a photo

I don't know specifically about how large attachments can be, but might be something to consider. Lots of different ways photos can be stored and some are very large.