I assigned the disks that I was going to use for parity and cache to a disk number. Now I can't assign them to parity and cache. When I try to remove them from the disk number I get an invalid configuration. How do I fix this?

You will have to do a 'New Config to clear down the current configuration and assign all the drives again, this time making sure you do the right thing for the drives you intend to use for cache and parity (maybe leave them off initially to play safe until you are happy with your data disks).  Before you start make sure you know the serial numbers of the disks to be used as data disks, and the ones to be used for parity and cache.

 

Assigning a data disk that has already been used by unRAID will not clear its data, so when you start up the array all the data disks should be ready to go.  If any of them come up as unformatted' then do NOT format that disk - it almost certainly means you did not get your assignments right and need to have another go.

I assume you do not currently have a parity disk -- is that correct?

 

If so, then simply do a New Config as suggested above and be sure you assign every drive to its correct function.

 

If you DO have a parity disk, then before you remove the two disks from your array, you should run a parity check to confirm everything is okay before you do a New Config and lose the ability to rebuild any failed disks.

 

As already noted, be sure you assign all of your data disks to the new configuration, as adding a disk at a later time will result in the disk being cleared (i.e. any data on it will be destroyed).

 

Just would like to confirm. Some of these disks already have data on them. I won't lose that right?

Just would like to confirm. Some of these disks already have data on them. I won't lose that right?

As long as that was data that was put there while they were acting as an unRAID data drive then you will be fine and the data will remain intact.    This is (I think) your current situation. 

 

If the data was put there some other way and the disk has never been used by unRAID then you would have a problem as adding it to unRAID for the first time rewrites the partition table.

 

If something you think is formatted shows up as unformatted, do not format it!! Take a syslog and post a question on the forum.

 

Here is a good process to follow when replacing parity or changing your disk configuration (not removing disks from the machine).

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=33277.msg306300#msg306300

Thanks to all for your help. Ran the "New Config" utility with no problems.