Hello,

 

I just setup my Unraid v6 server followed the YouTube guide from Jon. After I assigned the Partiy, Disk, and Cache, I hit Start and the partity sync is progressing. I then do a Format on my 1 Disk drive and 1 Cache Drive. It takes around 10-20 minutes and it's done.

 

While Parity is doing the sync the first time, does it run any test to make sure the HDD is good? Also, it looks like the data Disk drive takes only a couple minutes to do the Formatting, how should I run a test to make sure HDD is good? I read about Pre-Clearing the drive, but that is for testing and preparing the drive before put it into Unraid pool.

 

What should I run to make sure both my Parity and Disk is in good status?

 

Thank you.

Hello,

 

I just setup my Unraid v6 server followed the YouTube guide from Jon. After I assigned the Partiy, Disk, and Cache, I hit Start and the partity sync is progressing. I then do a Format on my 1 Disk drive and 1 Cache Drive. It takes around 10-20 minutes and it's done.

 

While Parity is doing the sync the first time, does it run any test to make sure the HDD is good? Also, it looks like the data Disk drive takes only a couple minutes to do the Formatting, how should I run a test to make sure HDD is good? I read about Pre-Clearing the drive, but that is for testing and preparing the drive before put it into Unraid pool.

 

What should I run to make sure both my Parity and Disk is in good status?

 

Thank you.

If you haven't put any data on then just start over and preclear each disk.

Hello trurl,

 

I assume I need to use the console and run the Pre-Clear on all drives including Parity, Disk, and Cache (ssd). After I run Pre-Clear on each drive, and if no error report, do I need to restart the Parity-Sync again?

 

Thanks

Hello trurl,

 

I assume I need to use the console and run the Pre-Clear on all drives including Parity, Disk, and Cache (ssd). After I run Pre-Clear on each drive, and if no error report, do I need to restart the Parity-Sync again?

 

Thanks

There is a plugin for preclear so you don't have to run it from the command line.

 

Simplest is to preclear everything. Then assign each drive except parity and let them format. Then add parity and let it build.

I have another question. I will pre-clear all data drives, but do I need to pre-clear the Parity drive to make sure it's working well? I am doing a new config so I have yet to assign any drive.

 

The pre-clear eliminates the need to re-calculate the parity when adding the drive as a new data disk to an existing array.  It does not eliminate the need to do the parity calculation when you first add the parity disk.

 

Taking from the above quote, I assume assigning a Parity Disk will make unRAID do its drive test anyway?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

I have another question. I will pre-clear all data drives, but do I need to pre-clear the Parity drive to make sure it's working well? I am doing a new config so I have yet to assign any drive.

 

The pre-clear eliminates the need to re-calculate the parity when adding the drive as a new data disk to an existing array.  It does not eliminate the need to do the parity calculation when you first add the parity disk.

 

Taking from the above quote, I assume assigning a Parity Disk will make unRAID do its drive test anyway?

 

Thanks

unRAID doesn't really do any disk tests on its own.

 

A parity drive isn't required to be clear since it is just going to be completely overwritten with parity anyway. Likewise with a drive that replaces another drive. It isn't required to be clear because it is just going to be completely overwritten during the rebuild.

 

Only disks added to a new slot in an array that already has a parity disk are required to be clear. This is so parity will remain valid. A clear disk is all zeroes and so has no affect on parity.

 

However, many (most) use preclear to test all new drives, including those that are going to be parity or used to replace a data drive. You must be able to trust every bit of every disk because all bits of all disks are required to rebuild a disk if one fails.

Thank you, trurl, that cleared all my questions!