replace failed disk with smaller one possible?

[ScubaBart]

Hey guys,

 

I have a failed 2tb disk with about 1tb data on it.

I've read everywhere i can replace it with a disk which is the same size.

But is it also possible to replace it with a smaller one?

(I have an 1,5tb cache disk i want to use for this)

 

Thanx!

 

[Joe L.]

Not possible.  Not unless you want to move all the files on the "failed" disk to a different disk and then initialize a new disk configuration with the smaller disk.

 

If you have a spare physical port on your disk controller you can attach the 1.5TB drive physically,

Then, pre-clear it.  (This will set the initial partition exactly as unRAID needs it)

Then format it.  (This will  create a reiserfs on it)

 

Thinking about it, since you said it is a cache disk, it already is partitioned and formatted.  un-assign it as the cache drive.

 

Then, mount the disk on a mount point you create.  You can do this by hand, or you can use SNAP or unMENU to mount the drive.

 

Then, copy the files from the emulated "failed disk" to the mounted 1.5 disk.

 

Then, stop the array, power down, replace the failed disk with the 1.5TB disk and then with the array stopped "Initialize a new Disk Configuration" by typing

initconfig

on the linux command line.

 

You'll immediately invalidate parity when you set the new configuration, so when you next "Start" the array by pressing "Start" it will perform a new initial parity calculation.  When the new parity calculation is complete press "Check" to make sure it is readable.  when that parity check is complete you'll be back to normal operation.

 

[ScubaBart]

Thanx man!

 

I'm gonna try this when i get home from work.

 

Grtngz,

 

Bart