newoski Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Hi Guys, Are the steps below correct for converting an existing Reiserfs disk to XFS? 1. Transfer all the data off the drive 2. Stop the array 3. Change the file system for the emptied disk from Reiserfs to XFS 4. Start Array Will that properly wipe the Reiserfs file system and replace it with XFS? Quote Link to comment
JonathanM Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 Hi Guys, Are the steps below correct for converting an existing Reiserfs disk to XFS? 1. Transfer all the data off the drive 2. Stop the array 3. Change the file system for the emptied disk from Reiserfs to XFS 4. Start Array Will that properly wipe the Reiserfs file system and replace it with XFS? It's not strictly necessary to empty the disk, just that you have a copy elsewhere so that you don't mind the disk being empty after the process. Sometimes deleting the files off the disk takes a VERY long time, especially if you are transferring the files to another array disk, so it's quicker just to do a copy. After you start the array with the new file system type requested, the disk will show as unmountable, and you will be offered the option to format it. Other than those nits, your overview is fine. Quote Link to comment
newoski Posted July 1, 2016 Author Share Posted July 1, 2016 Perfect. Thanks! Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment
MPR Files Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 I want to convert all disks in my array from reiserfs to xfs. Can I follow these steps in sequence for each disk in my array ? Or another way of asking the same question : copy contents of disk1 to somewhere off the array shutdown array change disk1 to xfs start array copy data back into disk1 repeat for disk2 to disk5 Quote Link to comment
garycase Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Yes, that will do the trick. "shutdown" array is actually just "stop" array => you don't need to shut the system down. Ideally you should do the copies (both when copying the data somewhere else and when copying it back to the newly formatted XFS disk) with verification, to be CERTAIN everything is perfect; but undetected errors during a copy are very rare, so it's up to you whether you want to do that. It will nearly double the time ... but gives you the peace-of-mind of KNOWING that all is well. Quote Link to comment
itimpi Posted August 17, 2016 Share Posted August 17, 2016 Just to clarify things, when you start the array after changing the format to XFS the disk will be shown as unmountable (at that point the configuration information is changed but the physical disk is unchanged). You will however be given the option to format the disk (which only takes a couple of minutes) which will create an empty XFS file system on the disk. You are then ready to copy data back to it. Quote Link to comment
Samsan Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hi, Is it possible to: stop array change disk1 to xfs start array Use the parity disk to reconstruct disk1 Quote Link to comment
gubbgnutten Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hi, Is it possible to: stop array change disk1 to xfs start array Use the parity disk to reconstruct disk1 No, you can't convert a disk to another file system that way. Quote Link to comment
Squid Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hi, Is it possible to: stop array change disk1 to xfs start array Use the parity disk to reconstruct disk1 No. You will wind up formatting that disk and losing the data on them. You have to spend the time and move the files around Sent from my LG-D852 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment
trurl Posted October 7, 2016 Share Posted October 7, 2016 Hi, Is it possible to: stop array change disk1 to xfs start array Use the parity disk to reconstruct disk1 Just to elaborate. Changing the disk to xfs will format it. Format means "write an empty filesystem to this disk". That is what it has always meant on every operating system you have ever used. unRAID treats this write of the empty filesystem just like it treats all other writes, but updating parity. So after you change the filesystem (format), parity will agree that the disk has an empty filesystem on it, and if you rebuild from parity you will get an empty filesystem. There is already a very long sticky thread about converting to XFS at the top of this subforum. Quote Link to comment
tillkrueger Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 I know it's an old thread, but in line with what I'll be doing for the next few days/weeks. Just to be sure, when I stop the array, then change the format of an empty disk, then start the array again and let unRAID reformat the empty disk to XFS, the parity is preserved, or not? Quote Link to comment
JorgeB Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 1 hour ago, tillkrueger said: Just to be sure, when I stop the array, then change the format of an empty disk, then start the array again and let unRAID reformat the empty disk to XFS, the parity is preserved, or not? Parity remains in sync. Quote Link to comment
trurl Posted September 9, 2017 Share Posted September 9, 2017 2 hours ago, tillkrueger said: I know it's an old thread, but in line with what I'll be doing for the next few days/weeks. Just to be sure, when I stop the array, then change the format of an empty disk, then start the array again and let unRAID reformat the empty disk to XFS, the parity is preserved, or not? Just to elaborate, anything that is not strictly a read is a write operation. Deleting files is a write operation, and formatting a disk is also a write operation. Anytime you perform a write operation on a disk in the parity array, parity is updated. So when you format a disk that is part of the parity array, parity is updated to remain in sync with that write operation. Quote Link to comment
daan_SVK Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 hi there, this is an old thread, is the info still valid? I have a drive in my array that is still on REISERFS. Can I use the procedure described here to convert it to XSF? The drive will be empty at the time of conversion. I don't mind rebuilding the parity. Quote Link to comment
JonathanM Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 3 hours ago, daan_SVK said: this is an old thread, is the info still valid? yes 3 hours ago, daan_SVK said: I don't mind rebuilding the parity. not relevant if you read this thread. Quote Link to comment
trurl Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 4 hours ago, daan_SVK said: The drive will be empty at the time of conversion. I don't mind rebuilding the parity. If it is empty all you need to do is reformat it to XFS while it is in the array and parity will be maintained as explained in my post just above yours Quote Link to comment
daan_SVK Posted November 25, 2022 Share Posted November 25, 2022 perfect, thank you both for the quick confirmation! Quote Link to comment
adgilcan Posted May 1, 2023 Share Posted May 1, 2023 And finally, just to confirm: When I copy the files off the disk to be reformatted, may I copy them to disks of smaller sizes? I suspect yes but in that case, does it enhance the case for data verification? Equally, might it be simpler to replace the drive with a new one, formatted to XFS, and write the files onto it from the old Reiserfs disk which can then be formatted and added to the array or otherwise disposed of? I ask because I have a bunch of 1Tb disks but the two disks I need to convert to XFS are both 2Tb disks. I'm wondering what would be the slickest, most efficient method of getting the job done? Quote Link to comment
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