Expand Raid 5 to use the spare as space.

[Mike10]

I have a ReadyNas 2120 v2 with 4 - 4TB disks. I am presently using the 4th disk as hot spare. When I click on the spare disk in the volume manager it offers to let me add parity to this disk. I assume this means I can add it to the disk pool and not have a hot spare? Is this correct? If yes, will it restripe the existing data or will it destroy the data on the existing volume? These are backups and I need to preserve them!

Thanks

Mike

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@Mike10 wrote:

Ok this is where it is at after clicking yes.

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Looks like it is adding the 4th disk then.  Just let it finish, it should then expand.

[mdgm-ntgr]

Add parity would mean to convert your volume from RAID-5 to RAID-6. That wouldn't lead to volume expansion.

[Mike10]

Is there any way to start using the spare disk to expand the capacity of the raid without having my data overwritten?

[JennC]

Hello Mike10,

First and foremost, always make sure you have backup of important data. It is a bad idea saving important data to just one storage.

Adding parity is safe for data. That action you are planning is moving from RAID 5 to RAID 6 which adds more protection to the data. Please see this article.

Regards,

[JennC]

Hello Mike10,

We’d greatly appreciate hearing your feedback letting us know if the information we provided has helped resolve your issue or if you need further assistance. 

If your issue is now resolved, we encourage you to mark the appropriate reply as the “Accept as Solution” or post what resolved it and mark it as solution so others can be confident in benefiting from the solution. 
 
The Netgear community looks forward to hearing from you and being a helpful resource in the future!
 
Regards,

[Mike10]

I have not received an answer on how to make my Raid 5 with a hot spare into a Raid 5 with no hot spare! I need to extra capacity.

[JennC]

Hello Mike10,

Please see the response I made on Apr 28. It has a hyperlink to a KB article.

Regards,

[Mike10]

I read that link but it doesn't tell me how to stop using a spare disk and reset it to be used as part of the Raid 5. It only seems to talk about converting to Raid 6 which I don't want to do!

Mike

[JennC]

Hello Mike10,

You are currently on FlexRAID RAID 5? How many disks did you use initially when you created the volume?

Regards,

[Mike10]

I ordered it with 4 x 4bg drives. 3 of them are in the Raid 5 and one is idle as a spare.

Thanks

Mike

[JennC]

Hello Mike10,

Please post a screenshot of what you see on admin page > Volumes.

Regards,

[Mike10]

[StephenB]

Try turning XRAID on (click on the X-RAID control).

Then click on the red 4 TB drive and see if you can click on "format".

[Mike10]

I want to make sure doing this won't erase my data?

[StephenB]

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@Mike10 wrote:

I want to make sure doing this won't erase my data?

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It will not erase your data.

Though of course Netgear (and I) always do recommend having up to date backups, especially before expanding volumes or replacing disks.

[Mike10]

Ok this is where it is at after clicking yes.

[StephenB · Accepted solution]

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@Mike10 wrote:

Ok this is where it is at after clicking yes.

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Looks like it is adding the 4th disk then.  Just let it finish, it should then expand.