Sorry for the stupid question, but can someone please describe, or provide a link, to the best process to add a new data drive to an existing unRaid server?

 

I built my first unRaid Server some months ago and recall that there were certain jumper settings that were recommended for WD Green drives and that there was a suggested pre-clear process for data drives.

 

Would someone please describe the suggested process and/or point me to the suggested directions?

 

Perhaps I've had too many beers tonight, but my efforts to search for this information have not been fruitful.

 

Many Thanks

 

John

Sure, no problem:

 

0) Run a parity check.  This will take a long time, so stock up on beer.  Ben's Liquor is currently selling Deschutes 6 packs for $6 each - this is a good place to start.  If there are any errors in the parity check, seek help here before proceeding.

1) If you have an advanced format drive (such as a WD Green EARS), place the drive in compatibility mode (this means installing a jumper on pins 7-8 for the WD EARS drives -  you may want to be relatively sober for this step as it requires a steady hand).

2) Preclear the drive.  Instructions and download link here.  You'll need lots of beer for this part, since it will take a long time (35 hours for a 2 TB drive).  I would recommend Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale or perhaps Lagunitas IPA if you are feeling adventurous.

Note: You can run steps 0 and 2 simultaneously

3) Post your preclear results in this thread if you don't know how to interpret them yourself.  They will be automatically saved to your syslog by the preclear script.  You can find your syslog on the unRAID flash drive.

4) Stop the array.  Assign the new drive to a data drive slot on the 'devices' page.  Click back over to the 'main' page and start the array.

5)  The new drive (and only the new drive) should show up as 'unformatted'.  Press the format button.  Grab a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and drink it quickly, as the formatting process will only take a few minutes.  You have to manually refresh the page to monitor the progress.

6) Once the format is complete, the array is ready!  I recommend a hearty Anchor Porter or Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout at this point.  You'll also want to watch a movie off the server to celebrate.

 

Note: My beer recommendations apply to the Western US, specifically those available in Reno, NV

Ha! Best post I've read in a long time.

Many thanks for the reply Rajahal.

 

First for the beer recommendations (there are two there that I haven't tried) and secondly for the detailed instructions for how to best add my new drive.

 

Who knew that the unRaid Forum was good for such varied advice?

 

Cheers

 

John

Ran preclear last night, but there was no update to my syslog.  Perhaps I was impatient and checked too soon.

 

Regardless, I was concerned that my tinkering had screwed things up (if pre-clear was still running), so I rebooted and I am running it again.

 

Just to be sure, I'll find the syslog that you refer to in the "Logs" folder of the flash drive.  Correct?

 

Thanks

 

John

Ran preclear last night, but there was no update to my syslog.  Perhaps I was impatient and checked too soon.

 

Regardless, I was concerned that my tinkering had screwed things up (if pre-clear was still running), so I rebooted and I am running it again.

 

Just to be sure, I'll find the syslog that you refer to in the "Logs" folder of the flash drive.  Correct?

 

Thanks

 

John

No... it is in /var/log/syslog

Ugh, I'm such a dummy.

 

As I browse my flash drive from windows, there is no "var" folder.

 

How do I go about viewing the folder with the preclear results?

 

Thanks

 

John

Ugh, I'm such a dummy.

 

As I browse my flash drive from windows, there is no "var" folder.

 

How do I go about viewing the folder with the preclear results?

 

Thanks

 

John

You don't browse the /var folder from windows...  (unless you just want to look at the whole syslog, in which case you can enter

http://tower/log/syslog

in your browser.

 

Other than that, You log in via telnet, or on the system console and follow the directions given in the wiki to capture the syslog.  (instructions under troubleshooting)

 

Joe L.

Ran preclear last night, but there was no update to my syslog.  Perhaps I was impatient and checked too soon.

 

Regardless, I was concerned that my tinkering had screwed things up (if pre-clear was still running), so I rebooted and I am running it again.

 

Just to be sure, I'll find the syslog that you refer to in the "Logs" folder of the flash drive.  Correct?

 

Thanks

 

John

 

The preclear script runs in a telnet window.  It runs a very long time so it is a good idea to run on the unRaid console (i.e., using the keyboard and monitor connected to the unRaid server).  The screen is frequently updated to let you follow its progress.  When it is done, the preclear script ends and the command prompt is shown.  If you run preclear from a remote telnet windows (e.g, putty), preclear will terminate when you close that window.  There is an addon called "screen" that lets you put a running telnet window in the background and resume it at a later time.