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Forum Discussion
Migration of RN426 from X-RAID RAID 5 to FLEX-RAID RAID 6
I have an existing RN426 (called ‘Primary’) populated with 6 x 2TB WD Red EFAX disks, formatted as X-RAID, RAID 5. This device has all my data files in 8 shares, in 1 volume ‘data’. Total data is about 700GB, so there is lots of spare space.
All my data on ‘Primary’ is backed up daily (using RSYNC and via daily DR smart snapshots) to ‘Backup’, a second NAS RN424 (running under X-RAID, RAID 5) on the same LAN.
To bring additional protection to NAS ‘Primary’ (RN426), I would like to reconfigure from X-RAID, RAID 5 to FLEX-RAID, RAID 6. This will reduce total data capacity, but will give tolerance for 2 concurrent drive failures.
I believe the mechanism to change from X-RAID to FLEX-RAID is in theory simple (ReadyNAS forum has articles on Adding protection to a Flex-RAID volume and to Change the volumes on ReadyNAS OS6 storage system from X-RAID to Flex-RAID) , provided there is no data on the disks at the time of the change. However, I believe the difficulty arises when there are existing shares and data on the volume ‘data’ which is being migrated to from X-RAID to FLEX-RAID, RAID 6.
I would welcome any comments before tackling this hazardous journey.
Thanks,
Warren
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WarrenT wrote:
I believe the mechanism to change from X-RAID to FLEX-RAID is in theory simple
Yes, you just click on the XRAID control on the volume tab. The green stripe disappears, and you are in FlexRAID.
But that doesn't change the RAID configuration of the data volume. You have to use ssh for that. Sandshark posted how to remove a drive from the RAID volume here: https://community.netgear.com/t5/Using-your-ReadyNAS-in-Business/Reducing-RAID-size-removing-drives-WITHOUT-DATA-LOSS-is-possible/m-p/1736125
Once you've done reduced the array to 5x2TB, you can format the drive from the volume page and add it back for redundancy. (You could also add it back using ssh if you want).
Alternatively, just destroy the data volume, create a new one as RAID-6, and restore the data from your backup. Uninstall your apps first (and reinstall them when done).
I have now read the following notes on the forum. These make me reconsider my desire to move to FLEX-RAID. It seems that for a single volume 'data', I can have RAID 6 under X-RAID. If so, would be great and I will stay with X-RAID.
Here is what I have read in the forum about X-RAID and FLEX-RAID.
"Is Flex-raid a proprietary Netgear tech? In case of an enclosure failure, I want to make sure I can plug one of the hard drives into a Linux box to be able to read items. Is Flex-raid just another way of saying "RAID?" RAIDX; Flex-RAID; RAID Are these three different things?
Neither is actually Netgear proprietary. "Flex-RAID" is what Negear calls what everyone else calls "RAID", just to differentiate it from XRAID. XRAID (at least in the current OS) is really just standard RAID but with a layer on top that makes expansion decisions for you instead of requiring you to know enough to execute them yourself.
XRAID volumes can still be standard RAID1, RAID5, or RAID6, depending on the number of drives. One limitation is that XRAID is limited to one volume per chassis.
X-RAID is an auto-expandable RAID technology that is available only on ReadyNAS systems. This is usually used by first time NAS users or users without extensive knowledge on RAID system.
X-RAID allows you to add storage space without reformatting your drives or moving your data to another location. Because the expansion happens online, you can continue to use your ReadyNAS system while the volume capacity increases. As @Sandshark said, one limitation of X-RAID is that it's a one volume architecture and all disks that you will plan to add will be added to that volume and also there are advantages to that such as easy management and the auto expansion feature.
On the other hand
Flex-RAID/RAID allows you to have multiple volume setup on your system and choose what RAID leve you will be using. However, with Flex-RAID formatting, if you want to add disks to expand your storage capacity, you must back up the data to another system, add a disk, reformat the RAID volume, and restore the data to the new RAID volume. With X-RAID, none of those administrative tasks are required. Instead, with X-RAID, your volume automatically expands to accommodate additional disks or larger-capacity disks.
Also, both Flex-RAID and X-RAID volumes can be mounted in a standard linux box.
So you might reconsider your reasons to avoid X-RAID.
Thanks for the advice. My Reply got 'lost' and has not appeared, so a repost. Pse forgive any duplication.
I have got some more data, which makes me realise I can stay with X-RAID and have RAID6. If so, that is great. How would I go about that?
My 426 currently has 4 x 2TB WD Red drives, and I will shortly add 2 more 2TB WD Red drives. Should I do those under RAID5 or when at RIAD 6.
Here is what I have read in the forum about X-RAID and FLEX-RAID.
"Is Flex-raid a proprietary Netgear tech? In case of an enclosure failure, I want to make sure I can plug one of the hard drives into a Linux box to be able to read items. Is Flex-raid just another way of saying "RAID?" RAIDX; Flex-RAID; RAID Are these three different things?
Neither is actually Netgear proprietary. "Flex-RAID" is what Negear calls what everyone else calls "RAID", just to differentiate it from XRAID. XRAID (at least in the current OS) is really just standard RAID but with a layer on top that makes expansion decisions for you instead of requiring you to know enough to execute them yourself.
XRAID volumes can still be standard RAID1, RAID5, or RAID6, depending on the number of drives. One limitation is that XRAID is limited to one volume per chassis.
X-RAID is an auto-expandable RAID technology that is available only on ReadyNAS systems. This is usually used by first time NAS users or users without extensive knowledge on RAID system.
X-RAID allows you to add storage space without reformatting your drives or moving your data to another location. Because the expansion happens online, you can continue to use your ReadyNAS system while the volume capacity increases. As @Sandshark said, one limitation of X-RAID is that it's a one volume architecture and all disks that you will plan to add will be added to that volume and also there are advantages to that such as easy management and the auto expansion feature.
On the other hand
Flex-RAID/RAID allows you to have multiple volume setup on your system and choose what RAID leve you will be using. However, with Flex-RAID formatting, if you want to add disks to expand your storage capacity, you must back up the data to another system, add a disk, reformat the RAID volume, and restore the data to the new RAID volume. With X-RAID, none of those administrative tasks are required. Instead, with X-RAID, your volume automatically expands to accommodate additional disks or larger-capacity disks.
Also, both Flex-RAID and X-RAID volumes can be mounted in a standard linux box.
So you might reconsider your reasons to avoid X-RAID."
Regards,
Warren
Hi Stephen,
Having read further including your recent reply and other notes, it seems a should re-phrase my original question to you about RAID 6.
Migrate from RN424 (X-RAID RAID 5) to New RN426 (X-RAID, RAID6)
I have a RN424 which holds all my data on 4 disks (X-RAID, RAID 5). I will purchase a new RN426 ‘Primary’ and re-purpose the RN424 as ‘Backup’. The 4 disks on the RN424 (4 x 2TB WD Red) will physically be migrated to the new RN426 as the starting core of 4 disks, containing all my data. I have two brand new WD Red 2TB disks to top up the 426 up to 6 disks. (In a later exercise I will repurpose the RN424 as my main Backup and close down the 2 x RN312 which are currently on Backup duty.)
RN426 6 x WD20EFAX from: 4 x WD20EFAX from RN424, and 2 x WD20EFAX new
- Shut down 424. Remove all 4 disks, taking note of channel number. Keep in order 1-2-3-4.
- Install 4 disks, in same order into 426, taking note channel number 1 is at top of box. This will bring across all the main attributes of the data volume on the RN424
- Start up 426 – should be same password and IP address and configuration as old 424.
- Change IP address to 192.168.1.60 and device name to ‘Primary’.
- Change from X-RAID, RAID 5 to FLEX-RAID and configure as RAID 6.
- Add 5th disk (new WD20EFAX). Add under FLEX-RAID as a Parity disk (I presume the second Parity Disk??), and allow to sync
- Add 6th disk (new WD20EFAX), Add under FLEX-RAID as a what type of disk???, and allow to sync
- Allow to run for 2 days to be sure of no problems
- Change from FLEX-RAID back to X-RAID. RAID will remain as RAID 6
Your advice on this route will be appreciated.
Kind regards,
Warren
WarrenT wrote:
4. Change IP address to 192.168.1.60 and device name to ‘Primary’.The device name will already be Primary. If the IP address is static, it would still be 192.168.1.60. If it is reserved, you will need to change the reservation.
WarrenT wrote:5. Change from X-RAID, RAID 5 to FLEX-RAID and configure as RAID 6.
6. Add 5th disk (new WD20EFAX). Add under FLEX-RAID as a Parity disk (I presume the second Parity Disk??), and allow to sync
7. Add 6th disk (new WD20EFAX), Add under FLEX-RAID as a what type of disk???, and allow to sync
Not quite. You
5. Hot-insert the 5th disk and let the volume resync and expand
6. Change from XRAID to FlexRAID
7. Hot-insert the 6th disk. Follow the instructions on page 43 of the user guide to "add parity" to the volume and allow it to resync. http://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/READYNAS-100/READYNAS_OS_6_SM_EN.pdf
8. Change back to XRAID
To clarify- RAID 5 and RAID 6 don't have dedicated partity disks. There are partity blocks that are distributed evenly across all the drives.
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