I just got a brand-spanking new Norcor 4220 for my unraid box, but I am afraid after reading the problems associated with the backplanes sometimes frying hard drives. I simply cannot take that risk up front.

 

I have about 5 hard drives that are dispensable that I can use to test the backplanes before I put my actual array on there.

 

Can someone please post a small tutorial on how to continuously test read-writes to the 5 hard drives via the backplanes for about a week? I'm not sure how I go about doing this.

 

I was thinking what if I precleared the five drives simultaneously, but I am also thinking maybe writing something to a test array might be better. Thoughts?

You are blowing the stuff you are reading out of proportion.  I have only EVER had one bad backplane on me and that was likely because of the molex power splitter that was in place.

 

I have built a lot of servers for customers using the above Norco cases and only ever had one problem, as mentioned above.

@prostuff1 -- thanks so much! I'll probably do this without testing per se then.

Since you have spare drives the only thing you may want to do to test the server before putting into use is plug 4 drives into each backplane and make sure they are all recognized. I did this with mine to make sure all 6 backplanes saw the 4 drives fine and the lights worked.

 

This way if you find there is a backplane with an issue you can move it up the case so it won't impact you today and you can contact Norco for a replacement backplane.

 

As ProStuff1 mentioned you are likely going to be fine, but with this being a large case there is value in confirming each backplane before you move it into production and it becomes more challenging to test down the road.

 

Yes, pretty easy to build the system and then hot-swap your disposable drives onto each backplane and check that they are recognizable. Boot up any version of unRAID 5 (you can use a flash drive and the free version) and then you can check that the drives are available to assign as you swap them between bays.

 

Knowing the cases working fine the majority of the time will be of little consolation if you do have a big issue.

As noted, you don't need to "thoroughly test for a week" ==> just confirm that each port works okay.    Be sure the drives power up and are readable.  That will confirm they're getting the proper power and the data cable is good.    You can test the entire setup in less than an hour.

 

You are blowing the stuff you are reading out of proportion.  I have only EVER had one bad backplane on me and that was likely because of the molex power splitter that was in place.

 

I have built a lot of servers for customers using the above Norco cases and only ever had one problem, as mentioned above.

I agree that the likelihood of there being a catastrophic problem is low, considering these cases are tested at the factory (and like you said have built out many systems using that case).  But I did personally experience a problem.  Perhaps I'm just unlucky, but it did completely kill 2 drives.  Taking some time to test the backplane--at least one drive in each backplane--is something I would and do personally recommend.  At least in my case, it was an all-or-nothing deal, where every drive in the entire backplane was affected.  I wasn't using a molex splitter, but modular cables from a high quality Platinum rated power supply.

 

In any case, I think the few minutes it would take to throw one drive (you wouldn't potentially mind losing) in each backplane is worth it. 

I think the few minutes it would take to throw one drive (you wouldn't potentially mind losing) in each backplane is worth it.

 

Agree ... as I noted earlier, just plug a drive into EVERY port and confirm that it works.  Should be able to test the whole case in ~ an hour.

 

Bringing up this old thread as a warning.... I performed all this when I first got my Norco 4224 a couple years back, all the backplanes and ports worked fine, when testing with an individual disk. Now years later, I populate with 3 drives, and power up and I can smell the drives burn up. Lost 2 more drives confirming it. Thankfully no data drives.

 

I thought I was safe from the Norco backplane issues, but it's really just a ticking time bomb. I have a second new Norco case here I could swap backplanes for, but my trust in their product is now gone. Plus the chips and on the backplane look unchanged after on this new revision of the backplane from 2015.