Calling all Computer Network peeps
- Thread starter _Windrider_
- Start date
Alright. Now that I’m out of the car
I have simple NAS at home in RAID 1. Dual 3TB system. I bought 2 6 TB drives, how can I get the array to recognize the larger drive after rebuilding the array?
first I took one 3 TB out and replaced it with a 6. No issues. Array shows 3 TB storage which is to be expected. After swapping out the other 3 TB drive and rebuilding the array I now have 2 6 TB drives in RAID 1. But it only recognizes 3 TB. How to I gain that extra 3?
I have simple NAS at home in RAID 1. Dual 3TB system. I bought 2 6 TB drives, how can I get the array to recognize the larger drive after rebuilding the array?
first I took one 3 TB out and replaced it with a 6. No issues. Array shows 3 TB storage which is to be expected. After swapping out the other 3 TB drive and rebuilding the array I now have 2 6 TB drives in RAID 1. But it only recognizes 3 TB. How to I gain that extra 3?
You should have made a new array and copied the data to it from the 3 tb drives. The system made a 3tb partition on the 6tb drive to match with the 3 tb partner in the array. it repeated this for the second drive for the same reason.
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What file system and partition types? Most simple home raids usually do not allow expansion of partition unlike Linux Volume Containers.
Correct, this isnt a networking problem.
Correct, this isnt a networking problem.
First off, sue me. I’m sorry I called it a networking thing.
is there no way to combine the partition without erasing the data? I get why it happened, I understand the basics. I’m just trying to leverage the larger storage. I don’t have anywhere to copy 3 TB of data. It’s only a 2 disk array. I’m using RAID 1 because it’s a mirror image. I could use 5 or 0 but on a 2 disk array I just don’t see the benefit
is there no way to combine the partition without erasing the data? I get why it happened, I understand the basics. I’m just trying to leverage the larger storage. I don’t have anywhere to copy 3 TB of data. It’s only a 2 disk array. I’m using RAID 1 because it’s a mirror image. I could use 5 or 0 but on a 2 disk array I just don’t see the benefit
Raid 1 is mirroring if a drive fails the mirror is an exact copy, you plug a new drive in and the drives will just sync up.
Install one of the 3tb drives onto your computer copy the data from the new array to the pc.
Kill the array and reconfigure copy data back onto the array.
Me if the data is important im copying data onto both 3TB drives.
Kill the array and reconfigure copy data back onto the array.
Me if the data is important im copying data onto both 3TB drives.
no. Simple 2 bay. If may be time to upgrade anyway. Want to get my plex server back up and running.
bays is not the number of sata ports you have. you are not tech savy until you have had at least one sata device hanging out the side panel running.
In simple terms, you have answers already
remove the raid config from the 3tb drives, so they are individual drives again
install the 6TB drives in the RAID device, create a new 6TB RAID array with them
put one of your 3tb drives in an existing computer and copy the data to the 6TB drives
or get a USB enclosure to put one of the 3TB drives in and copy the data that way
Your RAID device is operating correctly by doing what it did with a 3TB array and a new 6TB drive being introduced
but maybe if you had the drives networked instead of in a RAID array it would have just all worked out??
but this brings up another question, you don't backup the 3tb drives to another source and totally rely on RAID to protect your data??
remove the raid config from the 3tb drives, so they are individual drives again
install the 6TB drives in the RAID device, create a new 6TB RAID array with them
put one of your 3tb drives in an existing computer and copy the data to the 6TB drives
or get a USB enclosure to put one of the 3TB drives in and copy the data that way
Your RAID device is operating correctly by doing what it did with a 3TB array and a new 6TB drive being introduced
but maybe if you had the drives networked instead of in a RAID array it would have just all worked out??
but this brings up another question, you don't backup the 3tb drives to another source and totally rely on RAID to protect your data??
Oh I’ve had a few abominations of computers in my day. This isn’t like a rack server. It’s a simple off the shelf plug and play western digital NAS. When u said ports I wasn’t equating SATA ports and the like because it’s not even like that.
There are a lot of things I don’t do that I should. Technically in RAID 1 I have a backup as long as Both drives don’t fail. Never had one fail yet but I also don’t run them hard with read writes.In simple terms, you have answers already
remove the raid config from the 3tb drives, so they are individual drives again
install the 6TB drives in the RAID device, create a new 6TB RAID array with them
put one of your 3tb drives in an existing computer and copy the data to the 6TB drives
or get a USB enclosure to put one of the 3TB drives in and copy the data that way
Your RAID device is operating correctly by doing what it did with a 3TB array and a new 6TB drive being introduced
but maybe if you had the drives networked instead of in a RAID array it would have just all worked out??
but this brings up another question, you don't backup the 3tb drives to another source and totally rely on RAID to protect your data??
You have one of those small cheap entry level 2 bay network attached NAS systems
My guess is it's running really simple software and doesn't have any advanced functions like expand.
I'm assuming you still have at least 1 of those 3TB drives that you pulled out?
Spend the $20 and get an external USB case to put one of your 3TB drives in, like this:
Amazon.com: Vantec NexStar TX 3.5" USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-328S3-BK): Computers & Accessories
Hook that up to your computer and copy all the data off your NAS unit to one of the 3TB drives
BE SURE to verify everything copied safely!!!!
(You could even make a second copy onto the other 3TB drive just for fun).
Again, verify everything is there correctly.
follow the little raid box instructions / software menu to delete the raid array, remove any partitions, initialize the disks and then make a new Raid 1 with 2x 6TB drives (which should then use the full size).
Then copy all the data back off the 3TB drive
Again VERIFY everything copied back correctly.
My guess is it's running really simple software and doesn't have any advanced functions like expand.
I'm assuming you still have at least 1 of those 3TB drives that you pulled out?
Spend the $20 and get an external USB case to put one of your 3TB drives in, like this:
Amazon.com: Vantec NexStar TX 3.5" USB 3.0 Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-328S3-BK): Computers & Accessories
Hook that up to your computer and copy all the data off your NAS unit to one of the 3TB drives
BE SURE to verify everything copied safely!!!!
(You could even make a second copy onto the other 3TB drive just for fun).
Again, verify everything is there correctly.
follow the little raid box instructions / software menu to delete the raid array, remove any partitions, initialize the disks and then make a new Raid 1 with 2x 6TB drives (which should then use the full size).
Then copy all the data back off the 3TB drive
Again VERIFY everything copied back correctly.
Yeah I can do all that. Just was trying to avoid another pice of hardware but that’s probably the fastest solution.
mans yes it’s a consumer product not a professional grade product. Simple software but it works. Had it for about 8 years with no issues.
I have a simple but serious question for you
The information that is on that 3TD RAID, how much is it worth to you in terms of US Dollars?
The RAID failing or both drives failing are not the only problem you face. Ever heard of something called Cryptolocker?
Do you ever have lightening storms where you live?
Brother, just trying to help you. Buy a $100 USB drive and run regular backups to it, turn it off and put it on the shelf until you run another backup. My data is worth a lot to me in terms of US dollars, digital pictures of my kids going back 20 years. Priceless
Buy yourself an online backup system example https://www.idrive.com but many to choose from. I don't use cloud storage for personal reasons, but many others seem to love it (I am responsible enough with offline backups that I would only miss a week of backups at most and I can live with that.
If your information isn't worth $100, then ignore the above.
Nah I appreciate it. Some of its priceless. But again he RAID array is the backup. If one drive fails I don’t lose anything. I know I need to do more. I have the space and eventually I’ll build a full server setup again. My goal would be a 10 disk minimum array in 5+1 or something where the array can handle up to 3 failures.
Sorry, there was not much detail in the system you have before this post. My personal backup setup uses an old computer (mb, cpu, ram) that I put in a new case with a new power supply. Plenty of data ports in that system.
I have a case in the closet that can hold two separate systems. I’ve just been holding off because like gun parts, computer parts are scarce too, especially video cards. It can hold up to 20 hard drives.
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