The USB flash drive I am currently using is 16GB and physically large, so I bought a new smaller one with 32GB space.

First, I tried to copy all files and folders from the old one to new one, and boot from it, then I got the warning message "The registered GUID does not match the USB Flash boot device GUID" in the web UI, I understand why this happen.

 

Then I formatted the new flash drive and make a clean unRAID OS installation, and boot from it and registered a new trial key for it, then I shutdown the system and copy the "config" folder from the old flash drive to the new one, and boot from it again, then I got the warning message "It is not possible to use a Trial key with an existing unRAID OS configuration".

 

In both cases,  there are no "Register Trial Key" button or "Replace Key" button.

 

For now, I am still using the old large USB flash drive.

 

Can anyone suggest how can I switch to an new flash drive without any reconfiguration?

1 minute ago, kit17 said:

Can anyone suggest how can I switch to an new flash drive without any reconfiguration?

 

You can't replace a trial key, that's done on purpose, you can start a new trial.

Edited November 1, 20178 yr by johnnie.black

Just now, johnnie.black said:

 

You can't, that's done on purpose, you can start a new trial.

I thought this is easy to do in case of USB flash drive failure.

 

So in short, must I reconfigure everything during the trial period?

Just now, kit17 said:

I thought this is easy to do in case of USB flash drive failure.

 

See my edit, it's easy with a registered flash drive, it's not possible with a trial.

Just now, johnnie.black said:

 

See my edit, it's easy with a registered flash drive, it's not possible with a trial.

Yes, I understand that.

 

That's why I started a new trial with the new flash drive, but the problem is I cannot copy the configuration to it.

Just now, kit17 said:

but the problem is I cannot copy the configuration to it.

 

You can't replace a trial flash drive, that's done on purpose and if you think about it's easy to understand why, each trial license works for 2 months total, it's pretty common to have multiple flash drives laying around, so say you have half a dozen flash drives you could run unRAID for a year without registering.

 

Replacing a registered flash drive is possible and very easy.

1 minute ago, johnnie.black said:

 

You can't replace a trial flash drive, that's done on purpose and if you think about it's easy to understand why, each trial license works for 2 months total, it's pretty common to have multiple flash drives laying around, so say you have half a dozen flash drives you could run unRAID for a year without registering.

 

Replacing a registered flash drive is possible and very easy.

What if I purchase a licence with the old flash drive?

 

Then can I transfer the licence and the complete configuration to the new flash drive?

You could, but it would be best to buy the license for the new flash drive and then just copy the config from the old one, this way you could still replace that flash drive during this year if needed, you can only do one replace per year.

Sounds legit, thank you very much for the suggestion

 

The quick response really surprises me

Edited November 1, 20178 yr by kit17

One more question, how to correctly move the configuration to the new flash drive?

 

Simply purchase an license on the new flash drive,

then copy & replace the whole "config" folder from the old one to it,

and finally replace the purchased .key file?

12 minutes ago, kit17 said:

Simply purchase an license on the new flash drive,

this

 

12 minutes ago, kit17 said:

then copy & replace the whole "config" folder from the old one to it

then this and you're done, optionally you can delete the trial key from the old config.

Before you copy over the config folder, make sure that you have a backup copy of your .key file in a safe place!  In fact, I would make a backup copies of BOTH flash drives to another computer just in case.  (That will prevent you from discovering one of Mr. Murphy's Laws!!!) 

3 hours ago, Frank1940 said:

Before you copy over the config folder, make sure that you have a backup copy of your .key file in a safe place!  In fact, I would make a backup copies of BOTH flash drives to another computer just in case.  (That will prevent you from discovering one of Mr. Murphy's Laws!!!) 

I think I could always be able to download the .key file from the link in the email anytime, but that's a good suggestion in case of any network failure.

I scheduled to backup the flash drive daily in the unRAID system, I think that's good enough.

 

Actually I have already encountered the data loss few times (luckily, most of them are metadata) and learnt how important backup is.

These instructions below effectively replace the method described above.  They specifically describe steps to replace the usb drive before purchasing. I'm new to Unraid so i'm not sure if the flash backup was previously possible.  https://wiki.unraid.net/UnRAID_6/Changing_The_Flash_Device