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Forum Discussion
wdolson
Nov 07, 2023Guide
Problem Adding a Drive to ReadyNAS RN628X
I've had a ReadyNAS RN628X for a few years. The first 4 drives were 12 TB and I expanded with 2 16TB drives. The size of the volume expanded as expected each time. It was around 58 TB with 6 drives...
- Nov 09, 2023
OK, so this is the command you need to issue from SSH to change it to RAID5:
mdadm --grow /dev/md127 --level=5 --raid-devices=7 --force --verbose
That will cause it to re-sync to a RAID5 configuration. For some reason, you may need to issue it again once the sync is complete for it to be properly recognized as RAID5, but it won't have to re-sync again. If you add yet another drive, you'll have to do it again (with --raid-devices=8, obviously) and you'll likely need to do it for md126, too (with 4 devices), as it will convert to RAID6 when the 4th drive is added (at least that's what happens on my 12-bay NAS).
As with any sync, a power cycle can be deadly to your volume and things can always go wrong. So insure your backup is up to date and your NAS is on an UPS before you do this.
If that doesn't work, as it didn't once for me, you will have to convert to FlexRAID and remove one drive (logically, not physically) from the volume and re-install it.
For reference, see here:RAID6-to-RAID5-without-volume-re-creation-is-possible
wdolson
Nov 09, 2023Guide
Thanks for getting my post out of the spam filter jail.
It's always a good feeling when the data lines up with the theory.
Sandshark
Nov 09, 2023Sensei - Experienced User
OK, so this is the command you need to issue from SSH to change it to RAID5:
mdadm --grow /dev/md127 --level=5 --raid-devices=7 --force --verbose
That will cause it to re-sync to a RAID5 configuration. For some reason, you may need to issue it again once the sync is complete for it to be properly recognized as RAID5, but it won't have to re-sync again. If you add yet another drive, you'll have to do it again (with --raid-devices=8, obviously) and you'll likely need to do it for md126, too (with 4 devices), as it will convert to RAID6 when the 4th drive is added (at least that's what happens on my 12-bay NAS).
As with any sync, a power cycle can be deadly to your volume and things can always go wrong. So insure your backup is up to date and your NAS is on an UPS before you do this.
If that doesn't work, as it didn't once for me, you will have to convert to FlexRAID and remove one drive (logically, not physically) from the volume and re-install it.
For reference, see here:RAID6-to-RAID5-without-volume-re-creation-is-possible
- wdolsonNov 10, 2023Guide
Looks good. I'm going to hold off a few days before trying. I have a couple of spare drives on order, just in case they're needed and I'm slammed with work preparing some software for a trade show next week.
Thanks a bunch!
- wdolsonNov 11, 2023Guide
Thanks both of you. Your information was very helpful
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