Hello

 

I'm planning to adda new drive to my server (running 4.7)

Drive is WD 20EARX

How do I preclear it?

How long it will take?

What type of errors can possibly show up, and what should I do if I see at least 1 error?

 

Thanks

Its a pretty easy actually

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0

 

I just precleared a 2TB as well.  You an skip the pre read using -W command, and stop it at post read if you want with ctl-c.  that will save some time.  I let mine go over night, so not sure how long it took.

 

 

 

Running a standard preclear can take in excess of 24 hours.  See here:  http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/User_Benchmarks#Preclear_Times

 

Its a pretty easy actually

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0

 

I just precleared a 2TB as well.  You an skip the pre read using -W command, and stop it at post read if you want with ctl-c.  that will save some time.  I let mine go over night, so not sure how long it took.

oops...I looked at that thread, and it sounds "complex"

For a EARX drive, do I need the -a or -A command?

 

Use -A on that drive, it uses 4K sectors.

Is the pre-clear a function directly accessible from the webGUI (a button) or is it a command to be type in in "Linux" mode?

If yes, how?

at the moment the only webGui for preclear is in the unmenu addon.

most of us just use a telnet connection ("linux mode").

 

(a unraid v5 plugin to start and control preclear is on my todo. but i hit some problems i couldn't work out yet...)

 

 

for the how to run the command, look in the preclear thread.

Can you direct me to a link for the "how to Telnet" that command?

Can you direct me to a link for the "how to Telnet" that command?

 

You will find the info you need here. http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0

 

 

My server is configured to stop at 11:45pm every day (I do not let it 24/7)

Since preclearing a disk can take more than 24 hours (for a 2Tb drive) i guess I have to disable hat function in my go file

What is the character to put at the beginning of the line to make it a comment only and thus be ignored?

Is it "#" ?

# is the character you're looking for if you want to comment out a line.  The only other way to use the # character is #!/path/to/shell/executable as far as I know.

OK, I've added my new drive into the server

Now, how do i preclear it thru the webGUI?

I can see buttons such as SpinUp, SpinDown, HDParm, Smartstatus, Short smart test and Long smart test

 

It is command line only. You can monitor progress with mymain. Use an attached terminal to run pre-clear. If you use telnet is has to remain open for the hours or days that it takes to pre-clear. See here: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0

Does that mean I have to connect monitor and keyboard to the server?

And after, how do I type the command?

Is it:

cd /boot

preclear_disk.sh-A /dev/sdb

 

(I checked, sdb is the latest disk I've just added)

 

Once done, can I disconnect monitor and keyboard, and can I use my server normally?

Yes. Or you can use the screen add-on.

Cool.....can you tell me how the screen add-on works IN DETAILS?

 

I did try to install Screen with Package manager...

It says Screen is currently installed

But I am not sure to see any difference

How do I know preclear my drive?

Hey French-

 

There is a wiki for your benefit.  I suggest you read up.  People don't mind helping out, but you don't seem willing to research anything on your own.  Heres a link on preclearing with screen

 

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/Configuration_Tutorial#Preclearing_With_Screen

 

Give it a shot, and IF you have problems, come back for some help.

 

You're wrong, I am searching.....

I just want to make sure I won't mess my current data

 

Actually, I think my pre-clearing is running

 

I downloaded Putty, get connected to the server, launched screen and the command to preclear my drive (withe -A)

 

So now I'm waiting. Putty is saying "Disk pre-read in progress 31%" (running for 1 hour and 45 min)

 

Thanks

You're wrong, I am searching.....

I just want to make sure I won't mess my current data

 

Actually, I think my pre-clearing is running

 

I downloaded Putty, get connected to the server, launched screen and the command to preclear my drive (withe -A)

 

So now I'm waiting. Putty is saying "Disk pre-read in progress 31%" (running for 1 hour and 45 min)

 

Thanks

sounds good.  Looks like you are on your way.  The pre-clear script was written to attempt to prevent you from harming your existing data.    It is still possible to make an error, but at least you'll feel as if you contributed to the loss, as you will have to have confirmed that the disk you are clearing is the one you intend to clear.  (Disks that are assigned to the array or mounted are not able to be pre-cleared.  It checks to see the disks are not assigned or in use.)

 

Joe L.

Now, I hope the preclear will not return any errors. I would prefer not to have to RMA that brand new disk (however it's relatively easy at Newegg)

Anyway, i am waiting for the preclear to complete(57% after 3 hours 20 minutes)....By the way, will it be done at 100%? I mean in that case, it will be "only" ~7 hours, and I thought it would last something like 24 to 25 hours ?

 

Not sure how many preclear I will run. I am tempted to do only one

If I remember well, I think I didn't preclear any of my 3 x 1,5TB disk (Seagate and WD) when I started my server 2 years ago, and I had no issue

(touching some wood.....)

Now, I hope the preclear will not return any errors. I would prefer not to have to RMA that brand new disk (however it's relatively easy at Newegg)

Anyway, i am waiting for the preclear to complete(57% after 3 hours 20 minutes)....By the way, will it be done at 100%? I mean in that case, it will be "only" ~7 hours, and I thought it would last something like 24 to 25 hours ?

 

Not sure how many preclear I will run. I am tempted to do only one

If I remember well, I think I didn't preclear any of my 3 x 1,5TB disk (Seagate and WD) when I started my server 2 years ago, and I had no issue

(touching some wood.....)

Oooops.....I just read the thread from Joe.L and it seems pre-read is only the 1st step....So it won't be completed in 7 hours if I understand well

Fair enough, just have to wait !!!

I have a quick question.  I just ran a preclear on my WD20EARX drive and forgot to use the -A and already did a rebuild on the drive as it was replacing a smaller drive.  I have another blank TB drive, should I run a preclear on it with the -A and replace the disk I popped in without the -A?

 

Ohh I should add that in the GUI settings for Default partition format: I have it set at 4K Aligned

I have a quick question.  I just ran a preclear on my WD20EARX drive and forgot to use the -A and already did a rebuild on the drive as it was replacing a smaller drive.  I have another blank TB drive, should I run a preclear on it with the -A and replace the disk I popped in without the -A?

 

Ohh I should add that in the GUI settings for Default partition format: I have it set at 4K Aligned

You can check on how it was aligned by typing

fdisk -lu /dev/sdX

If it shows sector 64, no need to do anything.

If it shows sector 63, no need to do anything unless you are anal, since the ONLY drive with a performance issue was a WD EARS drive, not the EARX model you have, and even then, it was only in tests with many small files did the issue exist.  When playing media files, I don't think I ever read of an unRAID user even noticing any difference.

 

I honestly do not know how partitioning is handled when replacing an existing drive.  I suspect it will use the partitioning set up by the preclear process, but it could just as easily use the "preference" setting.

Click on the disk link on the main page to see the Partition format.