At this point i have a 6tb drive that i have moved all the files off.  The only remaining files that i can see in dolphin are the parent share directories - Movies , TV , Books, Music etc, but all appear to be clear and empty - unraid main page shows 33.9 MB but as far as i know its empty.

 

With Version 6.2 is this still the best way to do this or have new features outdated it? - These are the links that i have found.

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/FAQ_remove_drive

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/Shrink_array

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/FAQ#How_do_I_remove_a_hard_disk_that_I_do_not_plan_on_replacing.3F

 

 

 

 

 

With Version 6.2 is this still the best way to do this or have new features outdated it? - These are the links that i have found.

 

http://lime-technology.com/wiki/index.php/Shrink_array

 

You can use either method.

On Method 2 - Note: one quick way to clean a drive is reformat it! (once you're sure nothing of importance is left of course!) - How do i format and if i am reading this correctly, i should have the array running when i format the drive?

 

Also if i had used method 1, it appears that i would not have had to move the 4tb of data to another drive but just run the risk of no parity for a day while it rebuilds?

On Method 2 - Note: one quick way to clean a drive is reformat it! (once you're sure nothing of importance is left of course!) - How do i format and if i am reading this correctly, i should have the array running when i format the drive?

Since you are using Dolphin and already only have a few directories, it would be quicker just to delete those few remaining folders and create the clear me folder in Dolphin. Won't take 10 seconds.

 

(yes, I know the clear me folder isn't exactly that, I wanted to make sure directions are read and followed exactly)

 

The reason for using a format would be if you still had a drive full of files that you wanted gone. It can take hours to delete files, and only seconds to format the drive.

On Method 2 - Note: one quick way to clean a drive is reformat it! (once you're sure nothing of importance is left of course!) - How do i format and if i am reading this correctly, i should have the array running when i format the drive?

Since you are using Dolphin and already only have a few directories, it would be quicker just to delete those few remaining folders and create the clear me folder in Dolphin. Won't take 10 seconds.

 

(yes, I know the clear me folder isn't exactly that, I wanted to make sure directions are read and followed exactly)

 

The reason for using a format would be if you still had a drive full of files that you wanted gone. It can take hours to delete files, and only seconds to format the drive.

 

The folders that are remaining are the Share names and i don't think Dolphin will let me delete them

On Method 2 - Note: one quick way to clean a drive is reformat it! (once you're sure nothing of importance is left of course!) - How do i format and if i am reading this correctly, i should have the array running when i format the drive?

Since you are using Dolphin and already only have a few directories, it would be quicker just to delete those few remaining folders and create the clear me folder in Dolphin. Won't take 10 seconds.

 

(yes, I know the clear me folder isn't exactly that, I wanted to make sure directions are read and followed exactly)

 

The reason for using a format would be if you still had a drive full of files that you wanted gone. It can take hours to delete files, and only seconds to format the drive.

 

The folders that are remaining are the Share names and i don't think Dolphin will let me delete them

It should. All root folders on a drive are user shares, there's nothing special about them.

4 or 5 attempts at clear array script have failed. Global share settings have removed disk in question. i have excluded it in each user share as well (in shares tab).  putty session only shows clear-me folder and nothing else, dolphin shows nothing else, unless there are hidden files - how would i format? can i format while the array is running?  Perhaps i should use another method and risk a rebuild of parity.

4 or 5 attempts at clear array script have failed. Global share settings have removed disk in question. i have excluded it in each user share as well (in shares tab).  putty session only shows clear-me folder and nothing else, dolphin shows nothing else, unless there are hidden files

Just to be sure I understand, you ran the 'Clear an array drive' script, and it refused to do it because it thinks it isn't empty?

 

I think I should probably add a note to the script clearly indicating there are still files on the drive, so it's clear why it is refusing to do it.  I know it seems a bit draconian to require the drive to be empty since we're about to clear and empty it in the script, but we're trying to make absolutely *sure* we don't cause data loss.  In the past, some users misunderstood the procedure, and somehow thought we would preserve their data while clearing the drive!  This way, by requiring the user to remove all data, there can't be any accidents or misunderstandings.

 

- how would i format? can i format while the array is running?  Perhaps i should use another method and risk a rebuild of parity.

To format an array drive, you stop the array and then change the file system type to something different than it currently is, then restart the array.  You will then be presented with an option to format it.  Formatting a drive removes all of its data, and the parity drive is updated accordingly, so it cannot be easily recovered.  (The Parity drive does not have a file system, so is never formatted.)  I'll add this to the instructions too.

 

As to hidden files, I recommend you don't allow your file manager/explorer or OS to hide files from you.  Or at least not during times like these, when you need to know exactly what is there.

 

Earlier you said:

Also if i had used method 1, it appears that i would not have had to move the 4tb of data to another drive but just run the risk of no parity for a day while it rebuilds?

In Method 1, we remove the drive intact, so if that drive has data it still has that data.  We then rebuild parity to include only the remaining drives, so the data on the removed drive is no longer in the array.  Does that help?

Very helpful, thanks for the info.

 

I found a hidden trash file on the disk, so that must have been what hung me up.  I will post when i find out.

 

In answer to the question on script.  Yes, ran that script, and it said something along the lines of found no qualifying drives.  Don't remember the exact verbiage..

 

This looks like it would have been a lot simpler - http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=52041.0    - And i assume i could build 2 parity at same time and that i wouldn't have any parity, so its possible that a failure during parity build could cause me to lose data?

 

FYI, the recently cleared drive will go as 2nd parity drive as my system has had some weirdness on it lately and i am going to feel a lot more comfortable with one more parity drive.

Looks like it was the hidden file that caused the problem. It is clearing now.

... its possible that a failure during parity build could cause me to lose data?

 

A quick comment, a failure during a parity build will not affect the data, no loss of data, it would just be a failure of the parity build.  The parity build would have to be redone.

I've updated the Shrink array wiki, hopefully improving it.  I welcome any critiquing and further suggestions for improvement.  I haven't modified the script yet.

... its possible that a failure during parity build could cause me to lose data?

 

A quick comment, a failure during a parity build will not affect the data, no loss of data, it would just be a failure of the parity build.  The parity build would have to be redone.

 

Wouldn't there be a data loss if the failure happened on one of the disks in the array and parity wasn't built?  i understand if the parity disk failed you would be ok, but if you lost data on another drive then there wouldn't be parity to emulate?  I understand that with method 2 it would be very difficult to lose data, but with method 1 is there not some risk?

 

 

 

Wiki looks great.  Its always nice to have someone who doesn't know much about a subject, to idiot proof instructions

 

Is Progress window to be trusted or not on 6.2?  If so, over 3 hours in and have 32Gb done at a speed of 2.3MB/s - with 6 tb drive that might be "Very Looong"  I read somewhere  in the forums that progress window should be ignored (tunable setting was changed as per wiki)

 

Thanks again.  I may abort if its going to be over a few days and

 

 

 

Progress should be correct, that's way too slow, post your diagnostics.

Here is diagnostics.  Thanks for looking.  I have had some problems recently, but they seem to be worked out as far as i can see.  I am using a SE3016 drive expander and it is fully populated with 16 drives and i have 4 more in the computer case coming from motherboard.

tower-diagnostics-20160922-0655.zip

I ended up using the first method - Finished in a day and 3 or 4 hours to to a parity sync on one 6tb drive and build parity on the 2nd 6tb drive.

 

Thanks everyone who helped and advised.  Not sure why i had the slow script, but problem is solved.  Feeling much better now that i have 2 drives to save me if there is a problem.