Is it possible to mount a JBOD RAID Array (2 500HB) Drive, to UnRaid and copy the data that way? I have a few PC with 1-3TB of data each. I'd like to not have to copy all my data over the network. I'f it is possible please be very detailed explaining how.

 

Thanks

Please see the wiki

 

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php?title=Copy_files_from_a_NTFS_drive

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mounting_an_external_USB_drive_having_an_existing_NTFS_file_system

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mounting_an_external_USB_drive_having_an_existing_NTFS_file_system_in_READ/WRITE_mode_to_transport_files_from/to_unRaid_server

 

So the answer is NO?...these are 2 drives configured as JBOD...from another PC with a different Raid controller...

 

On another note... I just got my Array up and running on almost the first go around...While I wait for my pro key to be sent from Lime...Config list below:

 

Motherboard: Abit AB9 Pro, 9 SATA, 2 gigabit ethernet ports.

CPU: E4300 1.8GHz

Ram: Crucial Balistix 2 X 1024MB

Video: ATI All In Wonder PCI  from about 2001

Drives to Date: 1 X WD 1TB (parity) ; 4 X WD 750 GB I think I'll be able to get about 14-15 in this case.

Case: Antec ATX Full Tower from 2002

Flash: Lexar FireFly JumpDrive 2GB

Power Supply. Antec True Power Trio 650W (Temp until my Corsair 620HX gets in..couldnt wait)

 

That is correct... the answer is "no"

 

You need to mount the JBOD on a computer that can read it, and either copy it over the LAN to unRAID, or copy the data off to another intermediate storage location, then copy the data to  unRAID.

 

If you disable parity on unRAID, you should be able to move 2 TB per day of data to unRAID over a good Gbit link.

So the answer is NO?...these are 2 drives configured as JBOD...from another PC with a different Raid controller...

Correct.  The answer is "no"

 

In fact, it is a huge shortcoming of a JBOD array ... without their specific controller card and driver software on MS-Windows they are often unreadable on anything else but windows as a JBOD, and completely unreadable as individual disks.

 

This is also a huge advantage of the unRAID array.  The individual disks are readable just about anywhere on any hardware.

 

Joe L.

 

Actually it depends on the array or devices being used.

 

Sometimes individual disks can be read/reused on other hardware as is.

Allot of times there is special partition blocks set up and they cannot be.

Without knowing specifics it's hard to totally define if it's possible or not.

 

For example.

I have a JBOD USB array and the disk are seen as individual disks.

I have a eSATA array and the disks are seen as individual disks.

I have a 3ware RAID Card and JBOD / RAID1 mirror disks can sometimes be read on other hosts, any other raid level cannot.

 

If a hardware raid card is involved then there is a chance it can be read, but a chance it cannot be read.

I.E. some hardware or software raid environments support roaming.

 

What makes mounting on another machine an unknown is the term defined "RAID JBOD Array".

 

If the disks are defined as a RAID5, RAID6, RAID0, RAID10 array, they cannot be mounted on unRAID.

If the disks were defined as an array of JBOD without any RAID level, then it's possible.

If the "array" being mentioned is in hardware and the system sees multiple disks as one disk without drivers, then it's possible.

 

To simplify.

If you have an internal hardware raid card or chip, then chances are low.

if you have to load a special software driver to see the array or disks, then chances are low.

If it's done in hardware externally from the machine, then chances are possible.

If the drives are really just a bunch of disks, then chances are possible.

 

This is why I presented links in the wiki in case you have an external USB chassis to test with or your array is external from your machine.

 

The absolute safest procedure is to move the files over the network.

Then in no point of time is your data in jeopardy.

Thanks to everyone for the quick replies...

 

I actually had a backup of the data on the JBOD on my workstation...It was only 1TB or so. I double-checked the files then disabled the JBOD and installed them in the new UnRaid Box.

 

I guess when you start reading thru forums, most posts are from people with problems, so I was not expecting this setup to go so smooth...

 

Initially I did not set the SATA controller to ACHI correctly so it defaulted to IDE, and UnRaid took long to boot and when it did, showed no drives. Once I did get the BIOS settings right...in a flash it booted and showed all the drives (3 LOL ) and started checking the parity drive for 3+ hours.

 

UnRaid did format the drives really fast though...approx. 5 mins., they were the JBOD drives with data (maybe), should I be worried?

I did transfer a 6GB file to disk 1 earlier it took approx. 6 mins.

 

Thanks.

 

 

EDIT: Just got the Key File...swapped it and new drives are now clearing...Tom is fast...didn't expect it until Monday. thanx...

UnRaid did format the drives really fast though...approx. 5 mins., they were the JBOD drives with data (maybe), should I be worried?

 

No worries.

 

Clearing takes a while.

Formatting is a fast operation with reiserfs.

The parity create/check feels like it takes ages. LOL! The price of protection.