hi guys,

 

I currently have 1 drive in my array, a 525GB SSD, it's capacity is less than half utilized.

 

I have additional 2 HDD's, 640GB and 500GB, currently not utilized. My intention is to end up having in my unraid:

- Parity: 640GB HDD

- Data Drive: 500GB HDD

- Cache: 525GB SDD

 

How to achieve this?

 

I thought that i will add the parity 640GB, let it build.

Then i'll remove the SSD from the array. But i cannot replace the 535GB ssd with the 500GB HDD in same slot, because it's smaller...

If i put the 500GB HDD it in different slot, will the data be build based on the parity drive?

 

i also have additional 500GB SSD that could be used temporarily + enough network storage...

 

 

Or should i just move the vdisks/files from the 525GB SSD, start new configuration, then bring back the data?

 

thanks

-d

I think your fastest and safest method would be to add the 500GB drive to the current array, as Disk 2, no parity, then copy everything from Disk 1 to Disk 2.  Then you can use Tools -> New Config to reset the configuration, and assign all 3 drives exactly where you want them.  When you next start the array, the 640GB parity drive will build based on the contents of the 500GB Disk 1.  You will still have the original files on your new 525GB Cache drive in case anything goes wrong, and can clear them off whenever you want.

RobJ thanks a lot for this suggest - i followed it and was able to quickly solve it  no fuss...

After copying and creating new configuration with the 500GB disk as data drive, and parity built on the 640GB drive, I tested the VM's and all was ok.

I then added the 525GB ssd as cache and formatted to btrfs.

Changed a bit the shares policy in regards to the "use cache disk" so that my appdata and domains will stay on the cache disk and not on the array... Ran mover...

Will consider some backup for the VM's - i saw gridrunner has some tutorials on this topic

Thank you once again!

-d