A quick one .... i have a microserver, 6x8TB drives with dual parity which i'm considering, after a few comments on the forum, could be better deployed. Also, having two disks in the top of the microserver is creatinh heat issues. So, to the question. Can i just remove the 4x8TB data disks and stick them into server2 , also dual parity (10TB), without needing to do anything else and, once parity is reestablished, no loss of data. That will leave me with 2x8TB parity drives to redeploy, yes? What is considered optimal when it comes to data disks and parity? Server2 will then have 12 data and two parity. Ok?
 
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3 minutes ago, superloopy1 said:

Can i just remove the 4x8TB data disks and stick them into server2 , also dual parity (10TB), without needing to do anything else and, once parity is reestablished, no loss of data.

No. Once parity is up and running, any added disks will be cleared to keep the existing parity correct. This would completely wipe out the data on the newly inserted disks. You have to do a "new config" to tell unraid that you want to compute parity based on the new set of disks, in which case they will be left intact.

 

So, you need to do something else. When you do a new config, you can tell it to keep all assignments, and add the new disks on the main page. Just be sure NOT to check the "parity is valid" option, as you need it to run a full parity build with the new disks.

 

If this is in any way unclear, don't proceed without posting screenshots and asking questions. You could very easily wipe out your data if things don't go well.

Thanks!!
So, best to backup individual disks, i have 1 free 8TB, and add one disk at a time followed by a new config WITHOUT checking 'parity is valid' then.It'll take longer obviously but then i'm in no hurry. The 4 data disks are reiserfs, maybe i should convert to xfs prior to move?

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You can add all of them at once with new config, and only build parity once for the whole set.

14 minutes ago, superloopy1 said:

The 4 data disks are reiserfs, maybe i should convert to xfs prior to move?

Actually, since you brought that up, a better plan would be to add the blank 8TB to the existing array, let it clear and format it as XFS, then using UD copy one of your RFS disks to it, verify the copy, add the RFS to the array, let it get cleared and formatted as XFS, copy the next RFS victim, lather rinse repeat.

 

That way parity stays valid in the big array, your data disks get converted to XFS,  and when you are done you end up with an 8TB drive to keep as a spare or add when you need the capacity. Only downside is if one of your RFS disks dies in process, you will likely lose data. Are the smart reports good on all of your drives?

Just parity checked this morning so all should be good. So ... ud my spare 8TB and copy (?) disk1 to it. Then format array disk1 to xfs then copy disk2 et al? When i get to empty xfs disk4 then copy back disk1 from ud. Is that it?

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Nope.

 

Add spare 8TB to big array, let it clear, format it as XFS, then put your first ReiserFS disk in UD on the big array, and copy the contents to the newly formatted spare 8TB that is now a member of the big array. Verify the copy completed successfully.

Thought you were going to say that. No space in 'big' array assuming you mean existing microserver. So how do i rfs->xfs with no space? Or by big array do you mean the destination array, server2??

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Now I'm confused. I thought your new server had dual 10TB parity drives with plenty of extra drive bays. I would consider that your big array, no?

Now I'm confused. I thought your new server had dual 10TB parity drives with plenty of extra drive bays. I would consider that your big array, no?

Yes .. now we're not talking at x-purposes [emoji2]. So, remove disk1 altogether from small server, insert into big server as ud alongwith new 8tb drive. Copy ?? across to new drive? Is this cmd line? Think i need to read the wiki on this cos i'm not that sure that remiving from small server wont compromise that array? Will i be able to replace it if it all goes pear shaped?

 

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First add blank 8TB drive to big server, and let it clear and format it.

First add blank 8TB drive to big server, and let it clear and format it.

Ok ... thats done. I had already ran three cycles against the disk so zeroed and post-read aok.

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So, now you can copy at least 8TB of data from the small server to the large server. If you want to keep the small server parity intact for the longest possible period, you can do the copy over the network. It really won't be that much slower than physically moving the drive, and safer because you aren't disturbing the connections yet.

 

How much other free space do you currently have on the large server besides the 8TB you just added?

Got 3x4TB free ... 12TB

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2 hours ago, superloopy1 said:

Got 3x4TB free ... 12TB

Given that, plus the 8TB you just added, you should be able to copy over the entire contents of at least 2, maybe 3 of your drives that you want to migrate, depending on how full they are.

 

Once you fill that free space, and verify that the copies are accurate , you can break parity in the little server and add the parity drives plus those RFS drives that you just copied to the large server and format them as XFS, and copy the rest of the data over.

 

Before you start on the copying, perhaps it would be good to do an executive summary of what drives are where and how full they are.

 

e.g.

microserver

8TB Parity1

8TB Parity2

8TB 7.5TB used

etc.

 

big server

10TB Parity1

10TB Parity2

8TB 0 used

4TB 0 used

etc.

 

Thanks ... think i'm getting there. All disks are at the 70% full level so i'll only get one more on without having to break the old server and remove a couple. With a good wind all should go well. I DO checksum everything before it goes on the server so i'll be able to verify as i'm going along. I'll keep you up to date. Thanks v.much for all of your help, appreciated [emoji106]

 

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Remember that the parity disks in the old server are your first transfer candidates. Move those two 8TB drives and you may be home free. You can still start the old server without doing a new config even after you remove the parity disks. It will complain, but it will run just fine.