Hello,

Are there any dependencies for the preclear script to run on a normal (ie. NOT unraid) install?

 

Example use:

- Setup a debian machine.

- Hotswap drives.

- Preclear them.

- Zero them out.

- Remove and store the disks for future needs.

- Repeat until the truckload of disks is done.

 

Note: the zero them out is not needed for an unraid setup, it's needed for my setup, since disks will not be used for unraid.

I know that there is the normal answer of "setup a free license unraid and preclear them" but does not work for my use case, due to hotswapping, unsupported hardware, babies stuck in the hotswap bay and refusing to get out and so forth.

 

Thank you.

JoeL will be the best person to answer this, but I'm pretty sure that the script does access some unRAID configuration file(s).

 

But why don't you examine the script?  I suspect that a lot of the disk manipulation uses the dd command.  You could create your own script, possibly based on preclear, to achieve what you need.

 

You comment hat 'zero them out is not needed for an unraid setup', but I think that is exactly what preclear does, together with creating the MBR in a specific form.

JoeL will be the best person to answer this, but I'm pretty sure that the script does access some unRAID configuration file(s).

 

But why don't you examine the script?  I suspect that a lot of the disk manipulation uses the dd command.  You could create your own script, possibly based on preclear, to achieve what you need.

 

You comment hat 'zero them out is not needed for an unraid setup', but I think that is exactly what preclear does, together with creating the MBR in a specific form.

Odds are it will work... HOWEVER

it will not find the normally present unRAID config files that allow it to determine which disks are safe to preclear, and which are assigned to the array.

 

Therefore, it is possible for you to ask it to preclear your boot drive and normal debain partitioning will be wiped away.

It will be VERY important to double and triple check the serial number of the disk being cleared to ensure it is the correct one and that you are giving it the correct device name.  (otherwise, you'll feel really stupid that you asked to wipe away your debain installation)

 

Joe L.

I examined the script and I have concluded that the dependencies are:

 

- dd which comes preinstalled with all linuxes

- smartctl which is an apt-get install smartmontools away

- an MTA which for this case I wont need

 

create the disk.cfg (assuming you have 1 sda disk, adapt for ide or otherwise):

ls -l /dev/disk/by-path | grep -w sda

select pci-.......0:0 and append into /boot/config/disk.cfg adding "disk1=" infront of it

 

Anything else I have missed?

 

As previously stated, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. THIS IS A SPECIFIC USE SCENARIO NOT APPLICABLE TO YOU.

 

 

Note to SELF (as I said above, this is NOT for your use. It's for my PERSONAL use). BAD BAD BAD users, do not use it!

 

The script works on normal linux with the exception of the /boot/config/disk.cfg file. It needs to be touched (get serious, linux command there) before the script can run, otherwise it gets stuck. If the file is playing hard to touch, cd into /boot and mkdir config, then touch config/disk.cfg.

 

Started the script on 2 old disks, I'll let it run and post the results FOR MY PERSONAL USE.

 

Thank you for not using any of this.