NV+ RAID Questions

Well, "best use" depends on what you are trying to do.

If the goal is to maximize space, then use flexraid, and put a volume on each disk. That will give you 6 TB of space with no redundancy.

If you want maximum protection against failure, then you'd also want flexraid, putting the 2x2TB drives into a 2 TB RAID-1 volume, and the 2x1TB drives into a second 1 TB RAID-1 volume. That would give you 3 TB of space. (Though even with max protection, you need to have a backup!)

Your original proposal is reasonable and splits the difference. A 2 TB redundant RAID-1 volume, and two non-redundant 1 TB volumes. That gives you 4 TB of space. You can put the more critical data on the redundant volume.

Thank you for the speedy reply, again. And I have to say, I've been exactly what I DETEST in posters which is.... whiney... about trying to understand and solve this quandary. So I am grateful for your remarkably even tempered-ness when I doubt I would have been nearly so, moderate, in replies.

Having said that... I will say with the current two 2tb configuration and will now try to figure out how to add the 3rd 1tb drive and configure it, then the 4th 1tb drive. I do want redundancy for the two 2tb drives. And if it came to it, I'd just leave it that way. But seeing I can have the 3rd and 4th drives separate volumes, non redundant, that is what I am striving for.

I plugged in the 3rd 1tb device last eve and the NAS sat there for several minutes with reporting anything so I thought I'd mucked up the works, and unplugged it. But will give it a go again this eve. I followed the instructions to a T but didn't see the device show up in the Volumes screen to proceed, but am guessing I did not wait long enough?

Anywayz... I appreciate your replies. Am usually at all whiny about asking for online help but this stuff has worked on my nerves a bit and, well... I'll snap out of it. You are owed beers of some sort methinks.

tx

StephenB wrote:

Well, "best use" depends on what you are trying to do. If the goal is to maximize space, then use flexraid, and put a volume on each disk. That will give you 6 TB of space with no redundancy. If you want maximum protection against failure, then you'd also want flexraid, putting the 2x2TB drives into a 2 TB RAID-1 volume, and the 2x1TB drives into a second 1 TB RAID-1 volume. That would give you 3 TB of space. (Though even with max protection, you need to have a backup!) Your original proposal is reasonable and splits the difference. A 2 TB redundant RAID-1 volume, and two non-redundant 1 TB volumes. That gives you 4 TB of space. You can put the more critical data on the redundant volume.