March 5, 201610 yr As some of you may or may not know I have been discussing the possibility of extending the support to some of the less technical users of the forum. I am trying to get active in this space as I see it as an area I can give back to the community. Coding is not really my thing anymore. In that vain I have been working on a few things this week: - The possibility of using tutorial videos (currently via closed PM with a few people) - Forum re-organisaton (See here: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=47046.0) - Guides “quick-start for n00bs” (e.g. from the manual AND stable forum information) - Example Below - How-To's (e.g. more outcome focused like "Setup a Usenet Suite") - Example Underway Bullet Point 1: I am still playing with the Video's. I produced a sample video to prompt discussion and feedback and sent it to some Mod's for review. I have been asked by the Mod's to extend the review of the videos to a wider audience BUT I want it to be complete so I am coming up with some more examples first. Bullet Point 2: I posted (link above) a possible Forum design to facilitate better support and I'll leave all discussion about the in that thread. Bullet Point 3: This Post In the forum design thread I had already discussed my idea of a set of unRAID Manual Driven Quick-Start Guides. Then this morning I saw a couple of posts from 2 or 3 new users lamenting the poor documentation of unRAID and how an Expert level of Knowledge is required to get even the simplest (but still important) tasks done. One particular user was getting so frustrated that you could tell they were ready to give in (albeit probably just for the night). Well I can relate. I have been there - So I decided to try and elaborate on my suggestion into an example guide for evaluation. Here are the principals under which I have written this: - Written for Granny to understand and follow - A Full explanation of what you're doing and why is not required - It is expected that such guides are to be widely reviewed and endorsed by at least 1 mod - They "Live" on the Forum (Place to be decided) and not in a .PDF or the Wiki - They are part of a "suite" with chapters of sorts and shouldn't be released before complete There were more but those are the main ones. I chose a subject close to most NEW users hearts and some of us OLDER users too. It should allow for a very open and honest critique. All constructive feedback will be accepted with a smile. Please have a read and feel free to let me know what you think. [WARNING - DO NOT USE] This Guide is for Evaluation Purposes ONLY right now. It is has not been Peer Reviewed or Endorsed for Correctness or Completeness in Any Way [WARNING - DO NOT USE] unRAID QuickStart "For n00bs" Guides Note, this is part of a set of “quick-start for n00bs” guides to some basic unRAID tasks. It presumes only very limited knowledge of unRAID by the user but also takes no time to explain the complexities of what you’re doing and why. Know only that the guide has been vetted by experienced unRAID users and should not harm or damage your unRAID installation or hardware* *Disclaimer: This guide is expected to be followed word for word. The writer accepts no responsibility for any damage or loss caused if this guide is not followed exactly or outside the scope for which it was intended. unRAID QuickStart "For n00bs" Guides: Part 2 - Run a 3 Cycle Preclear This is Part 1 of a 4 Part subset of QuickStart Guides entitled: Preparing Your Disks for unRAID Part 1: Run an short S.M.A.R.T Test Part 2: Run a 3 Cycle Preclear Part 3: Run an extended S.M.A.R.T Test Part 4: Interpret your Preclear and S.M.A.R.T Results Assumptions: 1. That you have booted into unRAID and that your Array is either Started or Stopped 2. That you have installed new disks (not yet deployed in an array) and they are plugged into the server 3. The disks are recognised by unRAID and are shown as unassigned 4. Your unRAID server is located at "http://Tower" on your Local Area Network (LAN) Notes: This method uses the community built plugin called preclear disks plugin: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=39985.0 Guide Steps: Pre-step [OPTIONAL]: Install Community Applications Plugin Step 1: Install Preclear Disks Plugin Step 2: Download and Extract the Preclear Script the Preclear Disks Plugin is going to use Step 3: Rename and copy the Preclear Script to the unRAID flash drive Step 4: Execute the Preclear(s) Step 5: Monitor the progress of the Preclear(s) Pre-step [OPTIONAL] : Install Community Applications Plugin NOTE: This step is optional if it has already been installed. 1. Go to url “http://Tower” 2. Click “Plugins” Tab 3. Click “Install Plugin” 4. Under “Enter URL of remote plugin file or local plugin file” enter: “https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Squidly271/community.applications/master/plugins/community.applications.plg” 5. Click “Install” A dialog will appear while the Plugin Install’s. Watch and wait until the “Done” button appears 6. Click “Done” The dialog will close and Community Applications Plugin is now installed Community Applications Plugin is now installed. Step 1: Install Preclear Disks Plugin 1. Go to url “http://Tower” 2. Click “Apps” Tab 3. Click in Search Box on the the “Community Applications” tittle bar and enter “preclear” 4. Click the “Magnifying Glass” Button 1 Search Result will be displayed for The Preclear Disk Plugin 5. Click “Install Plugin” A dialog will appear while the Plugin Install’s. Watch and wait until the “Done” button appears 6. Click “Done” The dialog will close and the Preclear Disks Plugin is now installed. Preclear Disks Plugin is now installed. Step 2: Download and Extract the Preclear Script the Preclear Disks Plugin is going to use 1. Goto url “http://www.mediafire.com/download/xu2cel2zkb7475q/FastPreclear_FIX.zip” A Webpage will open to the “MediaFire” website 2. Click the Green “DOWNLOAD (30.27KB)” Button The FastPreclear_FIX.zip file will be downloaded to your default download location 3. Extract the FastPreclear_FIX.zip file OSX: (This will be done automatically for you) - Goto your default download location. - You will see a folder called “FastPreclear_FIX” Windows: (You must do this manually) - Goto your default download location. - Right Click on “FastPreclear_FIX.zip” to bring up the submenu - Click “Extract” - You will see a folder called “FastPreclear_FIX” Preclear Script is now downloaded and extracted and ready to be copied to the unRAID flash drive. Step 3: Rename and copy the Preclear Script to the unRAID flash drive 1. Open the “FastPreclear_FIX” folder 2. Rename the “preclear_bjp.sh” file to “preclear_disk.sh” OSX: - Click on “preclear_bjp.sh” file - Press “control” key and Click to being up submenu - Click “Rename” - Press <delete> - Type “preclear_disk.sh” - Press <enter> Windows: - Right Click to being up submenu - Click “Rename” - Press <delete> - Type “preclear_disk.sh” - Press <enter> 3. Copy “preclear_disk.sh” OSX: - Click “preclear_disk.sh” file - Press <control> and Click to being up submenu - Click “Copy” Windows: - Right Click to being up submenu - Click “Copy” 4. Goto the Preclear Disk Plugin Settings Share OSX: - Goto your Desktop - Press <command> + <K> A “Connect to Server” dialog box will appear - Enter “smb://Tower/flash/boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/” into the dialog box - Click “Connect” The “smb://Tower/flash/boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/” share window will open Windows: - Goto your Desktop - Press <WINDOWS> + <R> A “Run” dialog box will appear - Enter "\\Tower\flash\boot\config\plugins\preclear.disk\" into the dialog box - Click “Run” The “\\Tower\flash\boot\config\plugins\preclear.disk\" share window will open 5. Paste “preclear_disk.sh” into the share OSX: - Click inside the “smb://Tower/flash/boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/” share window - Press <control> and Click to being up submenu - Click “Paste” The “preclear_disk.sh” file will be copied into the “smb://Tower/flash/boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/” share Windows: - Click inside the “\\Tower\flash” share window - Right Click to being up submenu - Click “Paste” The “preclear_disk.sh” file will be copied into the “\\Tower\flash\boot\config\plugins\preclear.disk\” share Preclear Script has now been copied to the Flash Drive and are ready to be used by the Preclear Disks Plugin. Step 4: Execute the Preclear(s) IMPORTANT: The following Step will execute a command on your server that WILL take MANY hours to run. Some larger Drives (e.g. 8TB) can take up to 134 Hours - 5.5 Days. Ensue that your unRAID Server is left ON (e.g. Do NOT REBOOT) AND is in a place it will NOT be disturbed. NOTE: If you already have an Array setup you may continue to read and write to your Array as normal during this time. 1. Go to url “http://Tower” 2. Click “Settings” Tab 3. Scroll down to the “User Utilities” section 4. Click “Preclear Disk” icon A new GUI will open up indicating the disks available to preclear by a “Start Preclear” link in the very last Column of the page. IMPORTANT: This is the point where you want to ENSURE that you are selecting the correct disk. A Preclear will WIPE the disk and all and any exisiting data on the disk will be LOST. 5. Click “Start Preclear” on the disk you want to Clear A dialog will appear with the Preclear options to select 6. Under the “Operation” drop down menu Select “Clear” 7. Under the “Cycles” drop down menu Select “3” 8. Under the “Notifications” drop down menu Select “None” 9. Under the “Read Size” drop down menu Select “Default” 10. Under the “Write Size” drop down menu Select “Default” 11. Switch the “Skip Pre-Read” to “Off” 12. Switch the “Fast post-read verify” to “Yes” WARNING: Once you Click “Start” there is NO turning back. This operation WILL WIPE the disk and all and any exisiting data on the disk it will be LOST. 13. Click “Start” A dialog will appear showing the Preclear Plugin running 14. Click “X” in the top corner of the dialog to close it. The dialog will now close and you will be brought back to the Preclear Plugin GUI page. 15. Click the “Main” Tab 16. [OPTIONAL] Repeat Steps 1-15 for any other disks you wish to Preclear The Preclear has now been Executed. Step 5: Monitor the progress of the Preclear(s) executing on your disks 1. Go to url “http://Tower” 2. Click “Settings” Tab 3. Scroll down to the “User Utilities” section 4. Click “Preclear Disk” icon A new GUI will open up indicating the disks that the Preclear Plugin is currently executing a preclear on by a Green Status Comment in the very last Column of the page. EXAMPLE: <Status>. <Percentage Complete> @ <Speed> (<Current Duration>) Post Read. 20% @ 200MB/s (10:30:08) To the Right of this Green Status Comment is an “EYE” Icon and an “X” Icon WARNING: Do not Click the “X” Icon. Doing so WILL stop the Preclear and it is IMPOSSIBLE to restart mid way. You WILL have to start again. 5. [OPTIONAL] Click the “EYE” Icon of the disk currently having a Preclear executed on it A dialog will appear showing the Preclear Plugin running 6. Click “X” in the top corner of the dialog to close it. The dialog will now close and you will be brought back to the Preclear Plugin GUI page. You have now monitored the progress of the Preclear(s) executing on your disks. — End of Guide— Next Guide: Part 3 of 4: Run an extended S.M.A.R.T Test Guide Author: danioj Timestamp: 21:58:55 UTC Saturday, 5 March 2016 Version: 0.1 Reviewed By: Mod Endorsed: Timestamp:
March 6, 201610 yr Didn't review, but great idea. I would however make part 1 of a quick start guide to be Requisite Software - Install CA (k - maybe I'm biased here) - Install Powerdown plugin
March 6, 201610 yr Author Didn't review, but great idea. I would however make part 1 of a quick start guide to be Requisite Software - Install CA (k - maybe I'm biased here) - Install Powerdown plugin I thought about that BUT then I decided against it. I included the Requisite Software section as an optional Step to the guide. The idea here is that it is completely a n00b guide. Problem with doing what you're suggesting is that you are then dependant in there being a guide to do what you have asked. You potentially reference material outside the guide (so it is not controlled - unless it is part of the boarder guide) and more importantly you are loosing the 1 stop shop, follow all these steps and you'll be ok benefit to the guide. I guess what I am proposing DOES introduce duplication in that to do it the way I have proposed would mean repeating myself in many guides. Which also makes maintaining the guides and issue. Food for thought.
March 6, 201610 yr Kind of funny, I was planning to rewrite the OP for Preclear today too Yours is much more detailed than I was planning, I like it. The main difference is I would tell people to SSH to the server and type: wget http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ -O /boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/preclear_disk.sh to install the script. A lot less steps Also, according to gfjardim: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=39985.msg385229#msg385229 the plugin already takes care of installing readvz
March 6, 201610 yr Kind of funny, I was planning to rewrite the OP for Preclear today too Yours is much more detailed than I was planning, I like it. The main difference is I would tell people to SSH to the server and type: wget http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ -O /boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/preclear_disk.sh to install the script. A lot less steps Also, according to gfjardim: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=39985.msg385229#msg385229 the plugin already takes care of installing readvz Quick start guide you want to avoid SSH at all costs. Far easier to just download it through a browser and copy it onto your flash.
March 6, 201610 yr Author Kind of funny, I was planning to rewrite the OP for Preclear today too Yours is much more detailed than I was planning, I like it. The main difference is I would tell people to SSH to the server and type: wget http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ -O /boot/config/plugins/preclear.disk/preclear_disk.sh to install the script. A lot less steps Also, according to gfjardim: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=39985.msg385229#msg385229 the plugin already takes care of installing readvz Quick start guide you want to avoid SSH at all costs. Far easier to just download it through a browser and copy it onto your flash. You beat me to it. I am going for As Simple As Possible. As soon as you mention SSH to some users they turn off and it all starts sounding too hard. For example (and I am sure he won't mind me using him as an example) I was writing a post today about what "telnet" was: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=47137.msg451726#msg451726
March 6, 201610 yr I was writing a post today about what "telnet" was: I noticed that. You actually would have been better having them download putty, because telnet you have to change the character set if anyone in the forum ever asks them to load up mc whereas putty will work out of the box
March 6, 201610 yr Quick start guide you want to avoid SSH at all costs. Far easier to just download it through a browser and copy it onto your flash. Fair enough. Any idea how we can help people install gfjardim's version of the script w/o using the command line? http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ His version has the fast post-read code as well as notifications.
March 6, 201610 yr Quick start guide you want to avoid SSH at all costs. Far easier to just download it through a browser and copy it onto your flash. Fair enough. Any idea how we can help people install gfjardim's version of the script w/o using the command line? http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ His version has the fast post-read code as well as notifications. Right click on link. Save as to the flash
March 6, 201610 yr Quick start guide you want to avoid SSH at all costs. Far easier to just download it through a browser and copy it onto your flash. Fair enough. Any idea how we can help people install gfjardim's version of the script w/o using the command line? http://bit.ly/1G44UhZ His version has the fast post-read code as well as notifications. Right click on link. Save as to the flash LOL that is too easy. I was thinking copy/paste, but then you have to deal with using a unix-compatible editor, etc. Right click, save as is good
March 6, 201610 yr Author I was writing a post today about what "telnet" was: I noticed that. You actually would have been better having them download putty, because telnet you have to change the character set if anyone in the forum ever asks them to load up mc whereas putty will work out of the box Thats a really good idea. I have amended the post and instructions and advised accordingly. https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=47137.0 Back on Topic though, I think that quick-start guides will benefit from pictures at each point for both OSX and Windows. I think I am going to start taking some.
March 6, 201610 yr Author Kind of funny, I was planning to rewrite the OP for Preclear today too Yours is much more detailed than I was planning, I like it. It's just a representative example of what they "May" look like to be critiqued, suggested on and improved. Also, according to gfjardim: https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=39985.msg385229#msg385229 the plugin already takes care of installing readvz Thanks. Like I said, it is a representative example. But I have modified it anyway.
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