So I had 2 250Gb SSDs as my main cache. They were in RAID1.

I used this cache as a temp download for SAB. And as much as I download I didn't like all the extra writes to the drive.

I got another 120Gb SSD and want to use it as a scratch disk for mainly downloads, and didn't care for any protection on it.

I tried using Unassigned devices to mount it, but docker and SAB didn't play very nicely.

 

So I just ended up going to the cache tab and adding the 120Gb ssd to the 2 250Gb.

Now it created a pool of 310Gb. but I want to get the drive out. When I remove it, it freaks out.

When I connect to the share, it still says its only 250Gb.

I haven't balanced it the pool or anything.

 

I just want to know how to remove it before I screw it up more and lose the data.

I just want the drive back out of the "pool" and the orginal 2 250 back in RAID1.

-if there's important data on the cache pool backup in case something goes wrong.

-stop array

-unassign the SSD you want to remove

-clear it by typing on the console:

 

blkdiscard /dev/sdX

replace X with actual letter.

 

-start the array with the only two remaining cache devices, check that cache pool mounts and on the cache webpage "btrfs filesystem show" total devices are correct and it's not displaying "***some devices missing"

 

When I do that is just says "Unmountable" when I start the array back up.

It will do that if the SSD was not properly cleared, did you get any error running blkdiscard?

You have to wipe the ssd? I backed everything up. But that still scares me.

You have to wipe or disconnect the SSD you want to remove, or you'll get unmountable cache pool.

That still didn't work.

 

I stopped the array. Unassigned the drive. and then physically removed it. (I have hot-swappable bays so its pretty easy.)

started the array back up and it still "Unmountable"

That usually happens when the pool is not well balanced, see the FAQ for the complete procedure.

I cannot find any documentation on balancing cache pools.

 

I go to the 1 cache drive, on that page it says this.

No balance found on '/mnt/cache'

 

I clicked balance and in the syslog it prints

Oct 29 11:49:48 MediaServer php: /usr/local/emhttp/plugins/dynamix/scripts/btrfs_balance 'start' '/mnt/cache' '-dconvert=raid1 -mconvert=raid1'

 

I don't know if that worked or not, if it's in the process of balancing or what.

Was on phone earlier so not easy to post the link, but the FAQ is a sticky:

 

https://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=48508.msg484479#msg484479

Sorry for all the hassle.

 

When I execute the command

root@MediaServer:~# btrfs device remove /dev/sdi /mnt/cache

 

If the array is started I get

ERROR: error removing device '/dev/sdi': Device or resource busy

 

If the array is stopped I get

ERROR: cannot access '/mnt/cache': No such file or directory

It's missing the 1:

 

btrfs device remove /dev/sdi1 /mnt/cache

Yep just realized that, it worked! Thank You sooo much!