Sorry if this has been asked already but I couldn't find any topic on this.

I have  an array with 4 6TB drives, 1 of them being the parity drive, I need to replace all 4 with new drives (RMA from the whole SMR WD Red stuff)

What would be the best way to replace all 4 drives? There's not a huge rush but I'd like to avoid putting unnecessary strain on the new drives by replacing one at a time if possible.

Thanks

Replacing one at at time is the only way to keep their data.

Just curious about how you got the RMA from WD support? I've got a support ticket in for four of the 6TB drives as well, but I've not heard back from them yet. Also, what did they replace the SMR drives with? 

Tx.

On 5/14/2020 at 2:23 PM, trurl said:

Replacing one at at time is the only way to keep their data.

That's if you want to keep the array parity valid the whole time.

Assuming the box has the slots, he could:

1. mount new 3 drives and unassigned devices
2. file/mover copy the contents of the old data drives to each of  the new data drives
3. break the array
4. remove all the old drives
5. install 4th new (parity) drive
6. assign all new drives to array and rebuild parity.

alternatively, and this is just a theory, he could:

1. stop the array
2. attach 1 more new drives to the machine
3. 'PV' disk clone each of the old disks to the new disks, TAKING CAREFUL NOTE OF WHICH IS WHICH AND WHAT IT'S CONNECTED TO!
4. remove all the old disks
5. attach the new disks correctly, and force/mark the parity drive as valid
6. start the array

in theory, unRAID wouldn't/shouldn't know the difference as all the data is exactly the same, just the drives are different.

It requires the target drives to be either exactly the same size, or bigger.  And i'm talking actual reported sector counts and not just what the label says.

 

Personally, I'd break the array and wipe the config (doesn't destroy the data), PV the old data disks to new ones, mount up all the new disks, create array and rebuild parity.