I recently got some syncing problems. Rebooted and got the message (In the command Area):

 

o Stopped. New parity disk installed.

 

Which button do I click in order to keep my files intact on the data disks and start building the parity disk?

 

This one:  Start will bring the array on-line and start Parity-Sync.

              [ ] I'm sure I want to do this

 

Or this:    Restore will initialize the stored array configuration; all drives will appear as New, but data disk contents are not affected.

              [ ] I'm sure I want to do this

 

Please Help!

 

Start will do what you're asking, but could you give a little more detail on what you mean by syncing problems?

 

If you look through the threads you'll see there's seldom a valid reason to use the Restore button.

Ok... I've changed the sync disk because I suspected bad sectors on it.

 

Inserted a new disk. My question is: Which button do I click for building a new Parity Disk without losing existing files on the data disks?

 

I Remember when I played around with unRaid, before I used it for real, I swicthed a parity disk and clicked one of the buttons. Somehow the data disks got erased and all files lost. I don't want to to make this with the disks I got hooked up now.

 

So... Which button to click here? Go for "Start"?

 

you want start, but make sure every data drive is green first. this is the important bit, always make sure all your data disks are green

Ok... I went for the "Start" alternative.

The data drives were "green", parity was "blue".

 

Looks like it was the right choice. Now the parity is building up, with "orange" color. Thank you both for the help!

It's a little bit confusing with these two alternatives. But I got i working anyway. Now it will resync for about 14 hours or so.  

Found 2 bad sectors on the old disk which had been relocated (reading from the smart data). I believe I got those from the power outage I had one week before I bought an APC UPS for the unRaid unit. The Seagate 1.5 TB disks seem to be very sensitive and power dropouts seems to easily cause bad sectors.

 

Anything you guys have experienced?

Ok... I went for the "Start" alternative.

The data drives were "green".

 

Looks like it was the right choice. Thank you both for the help!

It's a little bit confusing with these two alternatives. But I got i working anyway. Now it will resync for about 14 hours or so.  

In your situation, the effects of both buttons would be nearly identical.

 

The button labeled as "restore" is actually a "Set Initial Disk Configuration" button.  Pressing it immediately invalidates any prior parity calculations and then saves a new disk configuration in your config/super.dat file.   If you had a failed data drive it would be the worst thing you could do, as it wold invalidate the parity you need to reconstruct the data drive onto its replacement.  That is why you were asked are all the data drives "green"

 

Since you were replacing the parity drive, it was invalid to begin with, so it really did not matter which button you used.  Pressing either results in a full parity calculation based on the remaining working and assigned drives.    Pressing "restore" with a failed data drive will effectively eliminate the ability to reconstruct the data on the failed drive to its replacement.    

 

So basic advice is NEVER PRESS RESTORE if you have a data disk failure (it is red) or are replacing a disk.   (There is an exception or two to this rule, but if in doubt, ask on these forums first.)  The exception is only if all the hardware is working, any failed disks, or failed ports, or failed power connections and it does not apply)  

 

Joe L.

 

 

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So basic advice is NEVER PRESS RESTORE if you have a data disk failure (it is red) or are replacing a disk.  (There is an exception or two to this rule, but if in doubt, ask on these forums first.)  The exception is only if all the hardware is working, any failed disks, or failed ports, or failed power connections and it does not apply) 

 

Joe L.

 

That's a little bit scary! I which there would be warnings under the "Restore" choice, telling the user to NOT use this alternative if a data disk is changed. When hardware is failing, the situation could be stressing and it's easy to do the wrong choice. Especially on a server like this, which many just leave for long periods of time and then forgets how to configure or click the right buttons in an emergency situation. The server is just great. But some short detailed info and warnings would be of great help.