I am getting ready to build an unRaid server.  I am choosing my components right now and saving for some of the parts.  I will probably build it in between one and two months.

 

I would however like to get the hard drives before that.  I see sales on hard drives and would like to take advantage of them.  I don't want to wait however for two months till the sever is built to test them.  Is there a way to test them effectively on Windows so I can take advantage of the deals I see now?

Hi

 

There's a pre clear script that completely wipes hard drives and gets them ready for adding to your unRAID array;

 

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=2817.0

 

This saves a lot of time once you're up and running (normally, when you add a new drive directly to the array, unRAID goes through this prep process preventing other tasks. Running pre-clear does the same thing outside of the array and means when you add the drive, unRAID just takes a couple of minutes to get it up and running (as opposed to hours or even days otherwise).

 

However, this script requires unRAID to run.

 

So, you'll either need an old, spare machine and set up unRAID using the free licence (the safe option) OR boot your windows machine from an unRAID USB. In either case, you'd' add in your new disk and run pre clear script.

 

The second option is dangerous and maybe unwanted because;

 

-there's a danger you would inadvertently pre clear your windows system drive if you're not sure on what you're doing

-your windows machine would be out of action for the duration of the pre-clear operation.

 

I'm sure there are windows based utilities you can run to test / stress test drives but none will perform the pre clear operation so you'll still need to go through the long process when you build your new server.

 

 

 

 

 

 

So the preclear script also tests the drive?

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

 

 

Yes, it's gives a SMART report at the end of the process.

Thank you for your help.

I would however like to get the hard drives before that.  I see sales on hard drives and would like to take advantage of them.  I don't want to wait however for two months till the sever is built to test them.  Is there a way to test them effectively on Windows so I can take advantage of the deals I see now?

 

Unless you are talking within the next 30 days or so, I would do the exact opposite.  As the higher capacity 5-6Tb and greater capacity drives come online and are more widely available, they will drive the price of the 4Tb and lowed down.  You also start the warranty clock ticking when you purchase the drives. 

 

But that is strictly my opinion.