I have run out of room on my array (96% full), so i've decided to add a 500GB drive as my cache drive, replacing a 1TB cache drive, then i want to use the 1Tb drive in the array.

 

I'm having some trouble doing this.  I tried copying everything off of the cache drive, but the mover script won't do it, probalby because the drive it's trying to move the large (17GB) video files to doesn't have room.  Okay, I figured I'd just add the cache drive (after preclearing) to the array, then add the old cache drive to the array, then copy off of the old drive to the cache drive, then I'd have the 1TB to use to move some files around to make room on the filled drives, then run the mover script.

 

I can add the new cache drive okay, but not the old cache drive.  When I added only the new cache drive, I needed to format it, which I did, and it all appears fine.  But, if I add the old cache drive, it shows with a blue ball, and unRAID just tells me

 

Start will record the new disk information and bring the expanded array on-line. All new disks which have not been factory-erased will be cleared first; and, the array will be available after the clear completes. This process takes time, but the array remains protected at all times. Caution: any data on the new disk(s) will be erased! If you want to preserve the data on the new disk(s), reset the array configuration and rebuild parity instead.

_Yes I want to do this

 

but checking yes, then start just comes back and continues to say "Array stopped", and I can't move forward.  I'd read some other threads on this, and they indicated this just worked for them, but it's not working for me.

 

Do I need to preclear the old cache drive before I can add it?  If so, I need to make it the cache again to get the files off of it, but some are 'locked' and I can't get them off, even after using the newperms command on the folders.

 

Any advice?

Do I need to preclear the old cache drive before I can add it?

unknown.  not too many people attempt the process you are attempting... AND we have no idea which version of unRAID you are running.  To add a drive without clearing its contents you need to set a new disk configuration.    We don't even know how to instruct you to do that, since we have no idea which unRAID version you are running

If so, I need to make it the cache again to get the files off of it, but some are 'locked' and I can't get them off, even after using the newperms command on the folders.

Any advice?

Yes, attach a syslog to your next post.

 

DO NOT start the array as it is now, as it will zero the drive, exactly as it is saying.   

thanks Joe.  I'm running 5.0-rc11a currently.

 

I took the new cache out of the mix, and put the old cache back, and restarted the array, which worked fine.  I'm currently running Midnight Commander to move the video files to the one disk with enough room to hold them all.

 

the only thing that will remain on the cache when that finishes are my plugin folders, which contain my settings.  If I lose them, it's not the end of the world to me.

 

The videos are finished moving, and i tried moving the plugins folder with midnight commander and it seems to be working without issue now.

 

Assuming it finishes without problem, I'll have an empty cache drive soon.

 

So, how can I add that drive back to the array once it's empty?