I just added a new 2TB drive to the array. My 1.5TB parity is still in there. I performed the preclear using Joe L.'s script (thx). The array is current stopped and the new drive has the blue ball next to it. My question at this point is; do I just need to check the box for 'I'm sure I want to do this' on the main page and hit the Restore button?  Just want to be sure.

I just added a new 2TB drive to the array. My 1.5TB parity is still in there. I performed the preclear using Joe L.'s script (thx). The array is current stopped and the new drive has the blue ball next to it. My question at this point is; do I just need to check the box for 'I'm sure I want to do this' on the main page and hit the Restore button?  Just want to be sure.

It depends on what you are trying to do.

 

If you have assigned the 2TB drive as the new parity drive in place of the existing 1.5TB drive, leaving the old 1.5TB drive previously used as parity as unassigned, then yes, you can press "Restore"    (Actually, you might even be able to press "Start" but it is been a very long time since I upgraded my parity drive and I honestly don't remember if the "Stop" button can be enabled by checking the box below it at that point.  Either way, you'll be re-calculating parity entirely.)

 

If the new 2TB drive is assigned to a data slot, and parity is still a 1.5TB drive, the array will not let you start it, as parity must be as big or bigger than the largest data drive.

 

Joe L.

Thanks Joe. So yeah, I am upgrading the parity drive and will use the old 1.5TB drive as a data drive. I marked the 1.5 drive as unassigned and so currently the array is unprotected. After assigning the new 2TB drive it shows Unformatted on the main page. My next step would be to select the Format button "Format will create a file system in all unformatted disks." Since I performed a preclear, will I still be able to access the array while drive is formatting/rebuilding parity?

Thanks Joe. So yeah, I am upgrading the parity drive and will use the old 1.5TB drive as a data drive. I marked the 1.5 drive as unassigned and so currently the array is unprotected. After assigning the new 2TB drive it shows Unformatted on the main page. My next step would be to select the Format button "Format will create a file system in all unformatted disks." Since I performed a preclear, will I still be able to access the array while drive is formatting/rebuilding parity?

 

Preclear does nothing for the parity drive, except to stress test the drive.  The parity drive does not have a file system/formatting on it.

 

Leave the old parity unassinged for now, so that if something where to go wrong you can use it to recover a data drive if one were to fail while the array was calculating parity.  I usually keep my old parity out of commison for a week or so and then run preclear on it after that.  That way I know my new parity drive is working well and not likely to die right off the bat.

Good advice Prostuff1. Thanks guys. I appreciate the quick responses.

Thanks Joe. So yeah, I am upgrading the parity drive and will use the old 1.5TB drive as a data drive. I marked the 1.5 drive as unassigned and so currently the array is unprotected. After assigning the new 2TB drive it shows Unformatted on the main page. My next step would be to select the Format button "Format will create a file system in all unformatted disks." Since I performed a preclear, will I still be able to access the array while drive is formatting/rebuilding parity?

Something sounds wrong.  The parity drive would never need to be formatted.  It does not contain a file-system.

 

Do not try to perform two operations at once. 

 

If upgrading the parity drive, DO NOT MESS WITH DATA DRIVES AT THE SAME TIME.  Simply change the disk assigned to the parity slot and on the main page start the array.

 

Please describe in detail what you've done.  I do not expect to see a "Format" button until you assign the old 1.5TB drive as a data disk, and it then shows as un-formatted next to the old-parity drive now being re-assigned as a data disk.

 

Joe L.

One rule I've made for myself is "One Drive At A Time".  Otherwise you could end up in a two drive failed state that could be interesting to recover from.

First off, everything appears to be running fine. In thinking back it doesn't seem like it was necessary to run the preclear for the drive since it was going to be used for parity, although it didn't hurt to put the new drive through the rigorous test as the preclear script does. At that point the main page was stating that the new drive was bigger than the current 1.5TB parity in use. I stopped the array and unassigned the 1.5TB parity, then started the array and that's when the new 2TB parity wanted to be formatted. It took just a few minutes to format. I then stopped the array and from the devices page I set the new 2TB drive as parity. I started the array once again and parity began rebuilding. At this time it's 22% complete with 7 hours remaining. The array is still up and I'm able to access it for streams. In hindsight, I know there were some steps I took which were not needed so I'll take that as a learning process. I am very thankful for the help you guys provided and will update the thread once the parity rebuild has completed.   

First off, everything appears to be running fine. In thinking back it doesn't seem like it was necessary to run the preclear for the drive since it was going to be used for parity, although it didn't hurt to put the new drive through the rigorous test as the preclear script does. At that point the main page was stating that the new drive was bigger than the current 1.5TB parity in use. I stopped the array and unassigned the 1.5TB parity, then started the array and that's when the new 2TB parity wanted to be formatted. It took just a few minutes to format. I then stopped the array and from the devices page I set the new 2TB drive as parity. I started the array once again and parity began rebuilding. At this time it's 22% complete with 7 hours remaining. The array is still up and I'm able to access it for streams. In hindsight, I know there were some steps I took which were not needed so I'll take that as a learning process. I am very thankful for the help you guys provided and will update the thread once the parity rebuild has completed.   

When you started up the array with the 2TB drive assigned as a data drive and no parity drive assigned, it wanted to format it and it let you.  That step was completely un-necessary.    You should have simply assigned the 2TB drive as parity.

 

Now that it is assigned party, you'll probably be fine. As far as needing the pre-clear... Yes, I think it is needed, since writing parity to the parity drive does not check if it can be read back.  You need to do a parity check AFTER you do an initial parity build to read it back and ensure you can... and then do a SMART report to see if there are re-allocated sectors or sectors pending re-allocation.    In my opinion, that is a bad time to learn of reallocated sectors, or other errors in the SMART report.  It is far better to learn before the drive is part of your array. (Lots easier to RMA it)

 

Joe L.

Parity-sync and parity-check completed without errors.

When you started up the array with the 2TB drive assigned as a data drive and no parity drive assigned, it wanted to format it and it let you.  That step was completely un-necessary.    You should have simply assigned the 2TB drive as parity.

You are correct here, I just didn't realize it until after I had already done it.

 

Now that it is assigned party, you'll probably be fine. As far as needing the pre-clear... Yes, I think it is needed, since writing parity to the parity drive does not check if it can be read back.  You need to do a parity check AFTER you do an initial parity build to read it back and ensure you can... and then do a SMART report to see if there are re-allocated sectors or sectors pending re-allocation.    In my opinion, that is a bad time to learn of reallocated sectors, or other errors in the SMART report.  It is far better to learn before the drive is part of your array. (Lots easier to RMA it)

Good point about the SMART report. My question regarding that is if the SMART report finds sectors needing reallocation, does it notify you in the telnet session or would have to look for it elsewhere?

FYI, the preclear process for a 2TB drive took nearly 27.5 hours.

 

My question regarding that is if the SMART report finds sectors needing reallocation, does it notify you in the telnet session or would have to look for it elsewhere?

 

However you obtain it, it is the SMART report itself that contains information about reallocated sectors and sectors pending reallocation.