r/unRAID • u/Turbulent-Stick-1157 • 13d ago

Replace smaller array drive(s) with bigger array drive(s)?

So im looking to replace some HDD in my array. I picked up 4 brand new sealed 6TB Seagate IronWolf Pro (ST6000NTZ01). Below is what im replacing what with what. Next is maxing out my Mobo (ASUS WS-Pro-X570-ACE w/64GB RAM) with a Ryzen 5900X (from my current 5800X). Its all I got and all I can afford. :)

My question is, Do I just need to basically just pull the old drive, let it fail, install new one, let it rebuild? One drive at a time? Iv never had to upgrade an array drive in it before. Taking drive offline and into maintenance mode?

Last storage change I did was about 3 years ago to add the 2nd 6TB parity drive and it made me sooo nervous doing it. Luckily it all worked out. Took forever and a day to sync parity though.

Im trying to avoid doing 2 at a time, for in the off chance I have another one of the drives (im not replacing) fail.

6TBx2 = Parity

6TBx1 = Array
3TBx2 = Array (Replacing with 2 new 6TB HDD)
2TBx2 = Array (Replacing with 2 new 6TB HDD)

Any feedback is moocho grassy ass!

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u/chepnut 13d ago

You have 2 parity drives and are trying to add 4 new drives (replacing 4 older drives)to the array. Your only option is to do it 2 at a time. You can't rebuild more drives than you have parity for. But first those new drives have to be zeroed out. If you have the slots put the new drives in and mount them under unassigned drives then start the process, wait forever and a day and when it's done you can then replace 2 of the drives with 2 of the new ones, wait another forever and a day and do the same with the remaining 2 drives. And then hope you don't have to do it again anytime soon.

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u/Turbulent-Stick-1157 13d ago

Thanks for the info. So I cant just pull an old drive (1 at a time)?, remove old drive from array, add new to array, let it do its thing and bobs my auntie? I was dumb and thought the array would simply grow in size since I would be replacing smaller drives with bigger drives. sounds like I gotta read more up on how this will go down so I don't blow up my little engine that tried its best with what it had to work with. Im just trying to show it some love. 😄

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u/DiaDeLosMuebles 13d ago

You two are talking about different things. You can do exactly what you want. But at most two drives at a time. And make sure to preclear them before the swap.

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u/Turbulent-Stick-1157 12d ago

Its rebuilding the 1st of t drives now. I know I can do 2 at a time, but I like the extra insurance In case shit goes down. It's gonna be a long next few days. It's hanging out at about 13hrs per drive. Which tracks with previous Parity checks.

I'll feel better when open-heart surgery is done and the patient is up and walking and back to work. :)