I have a 2TB Hitachi "SimpleDrive" external hard drive which can not be removed from its case or I will void the warranty. Is there a way to connect this drive to my array and use it preferably as a parity drive? If so, how is this done?

I have a 2TB Hitachi "SimpleDrive" external hard drive which can not be removed from its case or I will void the warranty. Is there a way to connect this drive to my array and use it preferably as a parity drive? If so, how is this done?

No, a USB drive cannot be assigned to the array.  It can be used as an additional un-protected drive.

 

Joe L.

I have a 2TB Hitachi "SimpleDrive" external hard drive which can not be removed from its case or I will void the warranty. Is there a way to connect this drive to my array and use it preferably as a parity drive? If so, how is this done?

 

I know it's a few months old Q...  but I'd toss in that I've cracked the case of a number of my old USB drives (WD Mybooks and one Fantom) and put those Sata Drives right into my unRaid server.   Sure, I'm blowing the warranty on them {if any remained - check online first},  but I don't care at this point.    I wanted the storage,  and now have iStar cages to make that happen.   And MUCH happier with the performance.

 

The old drives are retired from my WHS server I'm migrating file-by-file over to Unraid.   But for most of these drives, I had already 'cracked' open them and put them in an 8-bay Rosewill cage on the WHS server.    Now moved to my Unraid Server -- they work fine.  Inside is a plain sata drive.  (Usually Seagate or WD)

 

I know it's a few months old Q...  but I'd toss in that I've cracked the case of a number of my old USB drives (WD Mybooks and one Fantom) and put those Sata Drives right into my unRaid server.   Sure, I'm blowing the warranty on them,  but I don't care at this point.    I wanted the storage,  and now have iStar cages to make that happen.   And MUCH happier with the performance.

 

The old drives are retired from my WHS server I'm migrating file-by-file over to Unraid.   But for most of these drives, I had already 'cracked' open them and put them in an 8-bay Rosewill cage on the WHS server.    Now moved to my Unraid Server -- they work fine.  Inside is a plain sata drive.  (Usually Seagate or WD)

 

two things,

 

1. for those empty cases, they can be handy if you stick an old smaller drive into it. maybe a green 500gb you have in the spare parts bin.

 

2. Be careful with newer WD passports. some those have the drive soldered right to the usb to sata bridge. there is no sata plug in those. We busted open a 1TB model for use as a boot drive in a SFF NAS. oops..

 

2. Be careful with newer WD passports. some those have the drive soldered right to the usb to sata bridge. there is no sata plug in those. We busted open a 1TB model for use as a boot drive in a SFF NAS. oops..

 

 

Good 'more modern' feedback.  Darned those folks... can't keep alone (or know better that we'd crack the cases).

 

YMMV then.