I am fairly sure I know how to do this, but it always seems safer to confirm with the community.

 

I am running UNRAID 4.7 Pro with the following device configuration:

 

parity device: pci-0000:00:1f.2-scsi-3:0:0:0 host5 (sdg) WDC_WD20EARS-00MVWB0_WD-WMAZA2012130

disk1 device: pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-0:0 ide2 (hde) WDC_WD800JB-00JJA0_WD-WCAM91166161

disk2 device: pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-0:1 ide2 (hdf) WDC_WD1600JB-00GVA0_WD-WCAL91497383

disk3 device: pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-1:0 ide3 (hdg) WDC_WD2500BB-00GUA0_WD-WCAL73194546

disk4 device: pci-0000:00:1f.2-scsi-0:0:0:0 host2 (sdd) WL80GSA872_WOL240022754

disk5 device: pci-0000:00:1f.2-scsi-1:0:0:0 host3 (sde) WDC_WD10EACS-00C7B0_WD-WCASJ1880780

disk6 device: pci-0000:03:01.0-ide-0:0 ide4 (hdi) WDC_WD3200JB-00KFA0_WD-WCAMR2424426

disk7 device: pci-0000:03:01.0-ide-0:1 ide4 (hdj) WDC_WD3200JB-00KFA0_WD-WMAMR1534753

disk8 device: pci-0000:00:1f.2-scsi-2:0:0:0 host4 (sdf) WDC_WD20EARX-00PASB0_WD-WCAZAF822222

disk9 device: pci-0000:01:00.0-sas-phy2:1-0x0200000000000000:2-lun0 host0 (sdb) WDC_WD20EADS-00S2B0_WD-WCAVY1369828

 

What I want to do is move all the data off the IDE drives, then physically remove the IDE drives.

I'm going from a system with 10 drives to one with 5.

 

So on the system I am currently moving the data from these devices to "disk9"

disk1 device:  pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-0:0 ide2 (hde) WDC_WD800JB-00JJA0_WD-WCAM91166161

disk2 device:  pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-0:1 ide2 (hdf) WDC_WD1600JB-00GVA0_WD-WCAL91497383

disk3 device:  pci-0000:03:00.0-ide-1:0 ide3 (hdg) WDC_WD2500BB-00GUA0_WD-WCAL73194546

disk6 device:  pci-0000:03:01.0-ide-0:0 ide4 (hdi) WDC_WD3200JB-00KFA0_WD-WCAMR2424426

disk7 device:  pci-0000:03:01.0-ide-0:1 ide4 (hdj) WDC_WD3200JB-00KFA0_WD-WMAMR1534753

 

Once that is done, I believe I can take the following steps.

 

I shut down the array.

I shut down the power.

I REMOVE 5 ide drives from the box.

I start back up the machine.

Obviously the array should not function as multiple drives will be gone.

 

I will need to log in, and now type initconfig.

Then start up the array and let it rebuild parity.

 

I guess my question is, _before_ I type initconfig, can I go and change the slot positions of all the drives in the array? for instance the drives left will be

disk4, disk5, disk7, disk9, and my parity device (WDC_WD20EARS-00MVWB0_WD-WMAZA2012130)

Does unraid care, or will it lose data if I make those disks1-4 as long as I make sure the parity device is set to the parity device slot?

 

-Thanks

 

--Kanth

 

The data drives can be in any order.

 

Just curious.

 

If he as a share(s) set to include/exclude certain drives would that be automatically updated to account for the new drive slot?

Say he has a Movies share set to include drive 5. Then he assigns drive 5 to drive 2 slot. Will he have to manually change the Movies share to include drive 2 instead?

 

 

Just curious.

 

If he as a share(s) set to include/exclude certain drives would that be automatically updated to account for the new drive slot?

Say he has a Movies share set to include drive 5. Then he assigns drive 5 to drive 2 slot. Will he have to manually change the Movies share to include drive 2 instead?

Not quite sure what question you are asking? 

 

With the unRAID 5.0 series disks are recognized by their disk identity, not by where they have physically been plugged into the server.  It is therefore quite possible to move the position of the disk in the server without having to make any changes in unRAID.

Let's say the OP has a Movie share, the Include setting is set to Disk 5. Meaning only Disk 5 will be allowed to contain the Movie share. Now he assigns Disk 5 to Disk 2. What happens to the Movie share Include setting? Does it automatically update from "Include: Disk 5"  to  "Include: Disk 2"?

 

I'll do a test myself and see what happens... was just curious.

 

Update:

 

Did a test. Moving disks will not automatically update the Include/Exclude settings in the share to the new location.

Let's say the OP has a Movie share, the Include setting is set to Disk 5. Meaning only Disk 5 will be allowed to contain the Movie share. Now he assigns Disk 5 to Disk 2. What happens to the Movie share Include setting? Does it automatically update from "Include: Disk 5"  to  "Include: Disk 2"?

 

I'll do a test myself and see what happens... was just curious.

If you assign a different physical disk to an alternate logical slot in the array or swap the assignments of two or more disk YOU will need to update any specific include/exclude rules you've elected.  You may also need to set a new disk configuration.  Pay VERY CAREFUL ATTENTION to the on-screen messages, as if it says "new" disks will be cleared, it means it.

 

If you simply unplug all your drives, and then re-plug them into different disk controller ports at random, unRAID will still use them as before as it uses their model/serial number to determine which disk is which, not the disk controller port.