So I formatted a new 2tb drive with the advanced format.  I have 2 other 2tb drives(ears) as the partiy and disk1.  I added the new 4k advanced drive to the array and it asked me to rebuild the data.  What does this mean?  Does this mean the data from the main disk is being copied onto my new disk?  I had a 1tb drive in the array before, but removed it to get the new advanced formatted drive in place.

 

So for now, I stopped the data rebuild and I'm moving all the files onto my newly advanced formatted drive.

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

 

There was nothing on that 1tb disk(and it was disk2, all contents were on disk1, which is still in the array)

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

 

There was nothing on that 1tb disk(and it was disk2, all contents were on disk1, which is still in the array)

Does not matter.  Parity does not work on files, it works on the raw bytes on the disk.  Even an empty and un-formatted drive would be re-constructed to be all zeros and un-formatted.

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

 

There was nothing on that 1tb disk(and it was disk2, all contents were on disk1, which is still in the array)

Does not matter.  Parity does not work on files, it works on the raw bytes on the disk.  Even an empty and un-formatted drive would be re-constructed to be all zeros and un-formatted.

 

So the drive is basically being pre-cleared again?

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

 

There was nothing on that 1tb disk(and it was disk2, all contents were on disk1, which is still in the array)

Does not matter.  Parity does not work on files, it works on the raw bytes on the disk.  Even an empty and un-formatted drive would be re-constructed to be all zeros and un-formatted.

 

So the drive is basically being pre-cleared again?

Not cleared, but written to be exactly like the one it replaced, including the formatting of the file-system and any files that might be there.

unRAID was working as expected.  You removed the 1 TB drive (I assume it was previously disk1, but it doesn't really matter).  unRAID recognized that there was a missing disk, so it assumed that you were using the new 2 TB drive to replace the missing disk.  unRAID was reconstructing the contents of the 1 TB drive onto the new 2 TB one.  Is that not what you wanted?

 

There was nothing on that 1tb disk(and it was disk2, all contents were on disk1, which is still in the array)

Does not matter.  Parity does not work on files, it works on the raw bytes on the disk.  Even an empty and un-formatted drive would be re-constructed to be all zeros and un-formatted.

 

So the drive is basically being pre-cleared again?

Not cleared, but written to be exactly like the one it replaced, including the formatting of the file-system and any files that might be there.

 

Okay, well I just purchased the plus version.  how long does it take to get the files, do I just copy them onto the usb?  So now if I put back the drive, everything will be back to how it was before?  No need for a data rebuild?

LimeTech sends out the emails with your key file manually, so I would expect to wait anywhere between 1 and 24 hours.

 

Yes, you can put the 1 TB drive back in and there won't be any need for a data rebuild.

 

There's another option, but it does involve some risk.  If you have any drives you don't trust, then don't do this.

 

With the 1 TB drive removed, you can type in the initconfig command at the system console or via telnet and then confirm the action with Yes.  This will make unRAID forget about the 1 TB drive.  You can then add the new 2 TB drive and start the array.  unRAID will start a parity-sync and build parity based on only the 2 TB drives currently in the system.  Be aware that if any drive were to die during this parity sync, then you would likely lose data.  Once the sync is complete, run a parity check just to be sure.  Once both are complete, you are back to normal.

 

Finally, you could use the Trust My Array procedure to remove the 1 TB drive without losing parity protection, but it is much more involved and takes a longer amount of time.

LimeTech sends out the emails with your key file manually, so I would expect to wait anywhere between 1 and 24 hours.

 

Yes, you can put the 1 TB drive back in and there won't be any need for a data rebuild.

 

There's another option, but it does involve some risk.  If you have any drives you don't trust, then don't do this.

 

With the 1 TB drive removed, you can type in the initconfig command at the system console or via telnet and then confirm the action with Yes.  This will make unRAID forget about the 1 TB drive.  You can then add the new 2 TB drive and start the array.  unRAID will start a parity-sync and build parity based on only the 2 TB drives currently in the system.  Be aware that if any drive were to die during this parity sync, then you would likely lose data.  Once the sync is complete, run a parity check just to be sure.  Once both are complete, you are back to normal.

 

For this reason, it is best to do a parity check BEFORE beginning any process that is going to ultimately involve a parity rebuild.  It is the best insurance against finding a drive problem in the middle of building parity.

 

Finally, you could use the Trust My Array procedure to remove the 1 TB drive without losing parity protection, but it is much more involved and takes a longer amount of time.

 

I think you are referring to the zeroing of a disk process here.  It is link in the "Best of the Forums" page (see link in my sig).

LimeTech sends out the emails with your key file manually, so I would expect to wait anywhere between 1 and 24 hours.

 

Yes, you can put the 1 TB drive back in and there won't be any need for a data rebuild.

 

There's another option, but it does involve some risk.  If you have any drives you don't trust, then don't do this.

 

With the 1 TB drive removed, you can type in the initconfig command at the system console or via telnet and then confirm the action with Yes.  This will make unRAID forget about the 1 TB drive.  You can then add the new 2 TB drive and start the array.  unRAID will start a parity-sync and build parity based on only the 2 TB drives currently in the system.  Be aware that if any drive were to die during this parity sync, then you would likely lose data.  Once the sync is complete, run a parity check just to be sure.  Once both are complete, you are back to normal.

 

Finally, you could use the Trust My Array procedure to remove the 1 TB drive without losing parity protection, but it is much more involved and takes a longer amount of time.

 

So what happens if I upgrade to the plus version, add the 1tb drive back and also the 2tb drive.  Will it act as if the 2tb drive is a new addition to the array?

Yes. Upgrade to plus, replace the 1 TB drive in its slot. Do a parity check. If you allowed the rebuild to start, even for a second, then your 2TB drive is no longer precleared. Pre-clear your 2TB drive and then add it to the array.

 

Pre-clear stress tests a drive and allows it to be added to the array with little down time. You are replacing a drive, not adding a drive. When replacing a drive, data will be rebuilt on the new drive even if the data consists of all zeros.

 

Do not use the "Trust My Array procedure" unless you are very sure that you have never ever written anything to that drive. If it has a hidden file you will destroy data. Even if you wrote files to the disk and then deleted them the disk is no longer zeroed.

 

I would replace the 1TB drive and check parity. Then replace the 1TB drive with the 2TB and allow data to rebuild on to the 2TB drive. This will be faster than pre-clearing the 2TB again and then adding it to the array.

 

And this will keep you busy while the plus key arrives  .