I recently loaded 6.3.5 after not using my unraid server for a couple of years and two moves.  Anyway, my server didn't show a cache drive.  I figured my drive had just failed so I replaced the 2 1/2" 500g spinner with a 500g SSD.  It doesn't show up either.  What am I doing wrong?

Hi - 

 

When you say that it doesn't show up, what do you mean?  Do you have the array stopped, and you don't see the device ID of the SSD in the drop down as available to assign for the cache drive?

It wood help if you posted the diagnostics (Tools->Diagnostics) zip file so that others can try and spot what might be going wrong.

I'm just not that familiar with what OS6 does.  When the array is stopped it shows that there are 6 slats for cache, but slot one says :

Cache

no device

Cache 2

unassigned

Cache 3

unassigned

Cache 4

unassigned

Cache 5

unassigned

Cache 6

unassigned
 

 

Itimpi please help me out here.  I'm not sure how to post diagnostics...be gentle, I'm turning 70 tomorrow and am not as sharp as I once was?

Using the GUI,   'Tools'    >>>>     'Diagnostics'   The file will be written to your browser's download folder.

Happy Birthday in advance  .  Very basic question, but after you removed the old hard drive, did you try stopping the array, assigning the SSD into the first cache slot, and starting the array?  unRAID wouldn't have any way of knowing that you intended the SSD to be the cache drive unless you instructed it.  If you see the SSD in the drop down of devices for the cache slot, you can assign it.  If you don't see it, then there might be hardware problems.

Thanks tdallen, I appreciate the kind birthday wish.  I did not stop the array. I actually shut my machine down when I replaced the drive since it's attached to the bottom of my server.  I remember replacing other hard drives and they booted right up after a parity rebuild.  I guess I figured the cache would do the same.  I get what you're saying though.  I don't see a drop down of devices on my screen.  I do see the occupied and unassigned disk slots for both my array and cache as well as my boot device when my array is spun down.  It all goes away when it is spun up.  All this is under my Main tab.

You do typically have to assign the new disk to a slot in order for unRAID to start the rebuild.  Cache isn't protected by parity, though, so there won't be a rebuild.

 

I can't stop my array at the moment to create a screenshot, but if the array is stopped, on the Main tab, in the Cache Devices section, to the right of device Cache under the identification column should be a drop down of available devices that you can assign to that slot.  If you don't see it, perhaps post a screen shot of what you do see in the Cache Devices section with the array stopped.

Here's what it should look like:

 

Thanks, tdallen...This is what I found on mine.

I'm wondering now if I have a wiring or hardware issue like you previously mentioned.  It doesn't appear that it sees any devices that could be assigned to my cache.

Thanks Frank I got the log figured out from your post.

Edited July 9, 20178 yr by bprohs

tower-diagnostics-20170709-1018

Someone please let me know if this worked...Thanks!

If you are clicking on the arrows to the right of "no device" and there's nothing available to assign, then it sounds like a hardware issue.  Check cables and try another SATA port if you can.  Unfortunately this seems to explain what happened to the original spinner.

I give up!  I have a SATA II card plugged into PCI EI slot on my mother board.  There are two slots on the board...I tried both slots to no avail.  I moved the  cache drive cord to a vacant regular SATA slot, and again, no change.  The only thing I haven't changed is the cord.  I need to dig one up in storage and try it.  If that doesn't work it's got to be something in programming which is way beyond my paygrade?

Thanks to everyone who attempted to help, especially tdallen.

Don't forget to change the power connector to that drive.  It would not be the first time that a power connector cable has been found to be flaky! 

Thanks Frank I tried that earlier.  I'm in the process of ordering a new PCI-E SATA card.  I really don't know what else to do at this point.