how do I remove drives and keep parity?

[JustinChase]

I've decided to downsize how much video I keep to reduce the number of drives in my system (and move to a smaller case).

 

Is there any 'automated' or built in system or method to allow me to empty and remove drive(s) while keeping parity?  I found a thread from 2013 about a method that requires putting the array in maintenance mode, running a command from console and waiting a long time, then creating a new configuration without the drive.

 

If I had to do that multiple times to get it done, i think I'd just be better off doing a new config without the drives and just rebuilding parity.

 

I think a program build around flexibility of number and size of drives should allow one to reduce as easily as add drives.  Has this been simplified in the last half decade, or is it still very manual?

 

Thanks

[JorgeB]

There are only two options to shrink an array, both detailed here:

https://wiki.unraid.net/Shrink_array

 

 

[JustinChase]

Thanks Jonnie.  I'm almost done clearing the fourth drive and will start this tonight.