I'm just waiting on parts to arrive for my unRAID build and i'm trying to figure out the best way to move my data from my existing RAID5 NAS.

 

Currently I have a Thecus N5550 NAS 4x3TB WD RED in RAID5.

The critical data is a much smaller amount and I have a few backups of and will transfer later when the array is fully setup. I have about ~6.5TB in use of non-critical media (no backups, but i'm willing to risk the loss of these).

I bought a 4TB RED to use a parity in the new unRAID config and want to reuse my 4x3TB from the NAS. I also have 2x1TB and 1x1.5TB older green drives I planned to use to make the transition.

 

My plan i'm looking for suggestions/feedback on:

[*]Put new 4TB drive in existing NAS and copy files . Repeat for Green drives until I have a copy of all data from existing NAS (what should I format these drives as, does it matter?)

[*]Remove the 4x3TB RAID5 and create unRAID data array (no parity)

[*]Insert other drives and Copy data (unassigned devices plugin?) to array

[*]Once complete reformat/add 4TB drive as parity to the array. (possibly green drives as data to the array)

 

Any thoughts? I understand that i'm at risk during this time but as I said i'm willing to take that risk rather than purchase more drives at this time.

I think if you start by putting the 'transition' drives into the unRAID server and create an array from them and let unRAID partition and format them then shut the unRAID server and connect one of these drives to the NAS then any data you copy on will remain intact when the drive is put back into the unRAID server.  Not tried it myself but it should be easy enough to test.

I think if you start by putting the 'transition' drives into the unRAID server and create an array from them and let unRAID partition and format them then shut the unRAID server and connect one of these drives to the NAS then any data you copy on will remain intact when the drive is put back into the unRAID server.  Not tried it myself but it should be easy enough to test.

 

That does sound like a good plan. What would the process be for converting the 4TB "transition drive" from data to parity? unBalance to move data to other disks and then just format/add as parity?

I think if you start by putting the 'transition' drives into the unRAID server and create an array from them and let unRAID partition and format them then shut the unRAID server and connect one of these drives to the NAS then any data you copy on will remain intact when the drive is put back into the unRAID server.  Not tried it myself but it should be easy enough to test.

 

That does sound like a good plan. What would the process be for converting the 4TB "transition drive" from data to parity? unBalance to move data to other disks and then just format/add as parity?

Once you have the data off the drive the easiest thing is to use Tools->New Config and assign it as the parity drive.

I think if you start by putting the 'transition' drives into the unRAID server and create an array from them and let unRAID partition and format them then shut the unRAID server and connect one of these drives to the NAS then any data you copy on will remain intact when the drive is put back into the unRAID server.  Not tried it myself but it should be easy enough to test.

 

That does sound like a good plan. What would the process be for converting the 4TB "transition drive" from data to parity? unBalance to move data to other disks and then just format/add as parity?

Once you have the data off the drive the easiest thing is to use Tools->New Config and assign it as the parity drive.

And you don't format parity since it doesn't have a filesystem.