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DSM 7.1 Upgrading to larger drives + expansion unit

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2
0
NAS
1019+
Operating system
  1. Windows
Hey All! I've had my 1019+ for a few years now. 5 x 6TB drives in a Raid 6 array. Worked great since day one. I don't do much tinkering, so not too familiar with the ins and outs of it. My unit is filling up, so I've decided to replace them with 12TB drives. But for good measure, I've also decided to get the expansion unit to add more capacity and create more arrays. I've got some thoughts and questions below. Hope you guys can give me some input.

  • Is it faster and/or better to put those new 12TB into the expansion unit and do a copy/replace versus putting one drive in at a time and doing rebuilds?
  • If so, my raid 6 array would then reside in the expansion unit. Would I see a performance drop since my entire array resides there and not the main unit?
  • Can I then move my 12TB drives back into the main unit without much fuss?
 
Expansion units are expensive and slow. Get another NAS instead. You'll thank me.
 
I am considering adding a SSD on 720+ esata port and was looking into speed of that port on 718+ & 720+ as a basis for the specs a drive enclosure would need. I came across a thread that indicated the 718+ & 720+’s 517 expansion unit’s esata speed is slower than the NAS’s esata buss speed feeding it, and therefore SSD’s were not suggested for the expansion 517 unit, only spinning drives.
So Drive upgrade, as opposed to expansion chassis, would seem to be the way to go! (And in my case-adding a esata SSD as extra SE storage on esata expands what I own with a further storage area, though not redundant.
 
If you used an expansion unit so that you'd have the original 5x6TB RAID6 in the NAS and a new 5x12TB RAID6, you could use Control Panel to move the shared folders to the new RAID6. But any packages that you have installed will still be on the volume of the original RAID6, you will have to plan to back them up, uninstall, then restore to the volume on the new RAID6.

The problem with the expansion unit is that it relies on the main NAS to be its brains, over a single eSata cable. For that reason it's advisable to have different storage pools (RAIDs) on the two units... don't span a storage pool across the units. Your NAS system would now have two hardware units, two power supplies, and one eSata cable any of which could fail. At a certain level the expansion unit appeals to me, so I get extra bays without having to maintain another NAS. But in reality it is usually better to get a new NAS with updated hardware, lifetime reset to 0, and the old one can be repurposed for standalone used/backing up the new NAS/sold/given away. Having the old NAS as a separate hardware destination for backups is what many people do when upgrading.

I assume you have the current NAS backed up, a Hyper Backup vault maybe to USB drive. If you have then you could remove the current drives and rebuild the NAS with the new 12TB drives. Then restore using Hyper Backup. You would have a fallback of the saved drives.
 
Thanks for all the input. Back to the drawing board I go! :confused:

I was thinking of just getting a new 6 or 8 bay initially, but the cost savings of just adding on an expansion unit was quite appealing. But the performance limitations, plus extra points of failure, I feel outweigh the cost savings.
 
I've got a 2 bay expansion unit. Straight away both of the drives that I put in it got a "Drive reconnection count" error.

It's never increased and they've been like that for the past 6 years or so. I only use it as a backup, I wouldn't trust it with my main data.
 
I’m somewhat new to NAS so I’m hoping someone will assist me on swapping out my existing HDs for larger HDs since I’m already running out of space. I Have DS220+ with two 8TB HDs, one being my media and files and the other being a SHR RAID. I have Plex Media Server installed on the first HD along media and files. I have discovered that I underestimated how much room my media and files need. I’d like to install larger HDs. So my question is how to do so and how to do so without losing the media, files and the already installed Plex Media Server on the first HD?
 
two 8TB HDs, one being my media and files and the other being a SHR RAID
Do I understand that you have 2 separate pools? Each with one volume? If so there is no pretty way to do this. By the book... you would use Hyper Backup to create an off-NAS backup of each volume, then restore to the new drives.

Presumably, since you don't want to lose the files, there already is an external backup of all content. So you would restore that to the new drives.

A clean, though more technical approach for single drives, is to clone them to the larger drive, and then expand the data partition to fill the available space.
 
Only one pool composed of 2 equal sized drives, one for storage and the other SHR
 

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Only one pool composed of 2 equal sized drives, one for storage and the other SHR
This is why things are confusing. Your description is incorrect.

According to your screenshot, you have one pool, and one mirrored volume. The drives are the same. They are not "one for storage and the other SHR".
I’d like to install larger HDs. So my question is how to do so and how to do so without losing the media, files and the already installed Plex Media Server on the first HD?
Simple. Follow the Knowledge Center procedure to Replace a Drive to Expand Storage Pool Capacity.
Before doing so, ensure your external backups are current, and, if your system is btrfs formatted, I would suggest running a data scrub prior to swapping drives.
 
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I’m somewhat new to NAS so I’m hoping someone will assist me on swapping out my existing HDs for larger HDs since I’m already running out of space. I Have DS220+ with two 8TB HDs, one being my media and files and the other being a SHR RAID. I have Plex Media Server installed on the first HD along media and files. I have discovered that I underestimated how much room my media and files need. I’d like to install larger HDs. So my question is how to do so and how to do so without losing the media, files and the already installed Plex Media Server on the first HD?

This is why things are confusing. Your description is incorrect.

According to your screenshot, you have one pool, and one mirrored volume. The drives are the same. They are not "one for storage and the other SHR".

Simple. Follow the Knowledge Center procedure to Replace a Drive to Expand Storage Pool Capacity.
Before doing so, ensure your external backups are current, and, if your system is btrfs formatted, I would suggest running a data scrub prior to swapping drives.
Do I have to have the second HD as a mirror? Can I keep one of the 8TB drives and add a new 16TB drive so I have a total of 24TB storage with no mirror or RAID? (That way I only have to buy one new HD instead of two) I have all the files and media backed up on external HDs and want to use the DS-220+ to enable me to access everything from one place.
[automerge]1677865522[/automerge]
Do I have to have the second HD as a mirror? Can I keep one of the 8TB drives and add a new 16TB drive so I have a total of 24TB storage with no mirror or RAID? (That way I only have to buy one new HD instead of two) I have all the files and media backed up on external HDs and want to use the DS-220+ to enable me to access everything from one place.
Also, if both 8TB drives are the same (mirrored?) would it matter which one I replace with the 16TB drive, that I only want to use for additional storage? I have Plex Media Server installed so am I right to assume it is installed on both drives? I am asking because I had a lot of trouble getting PMS to work right and I don't want to lose the working setup I have. So I would have an 8TB drive with Plex and media on it, and a 16 TB drive with files and additional media. Is this possible?

So to clarify this in my mind, if I pulled one of the two 8TB drives out, the other drive would keep the NAS working as it was when there were two 8TB drives? Then if I installed a new 16TB drive, would the reamaining 8TB drive copy (mirror) itself on to the 16 TB file, and the 16 TB drive would be limited to only 8TB?
 
When you remove one of the 8 TB drives, the SHR-1 array will go into a degraded state. When you insert the replacement 16 TB drive, it will by default want to add the drive to the SHR-1 array. If you choose not to do this, the 16 TB drive could be configured as a stand alone drive, but DSM will keep nagging about the array being degraded. If you want two independent volumes it would be smartest to reconfigure from scratch and then restore your external backup.
 
When you remove one of the 8 TB drives, the SHR-1 array will go into a degraded state. When you insert the replacement 16 TB drive, it will by default want to add the drive to the SHR-1 array. If you choose not to do this, the 16 TB drive could be configured as a stand alone drive, but DSM will keep nagging about the array being degraded. If you want two independent volumes it would be smartest to reconfigure from scratch and then restore your external backup.
This is getting more complex than I like. If I bit the bullet and get two 16TB drives and then pull the first 8TB drive and insert the first new 16 TB drive it will be added as a SHR-1 (mirror)? Then If I pull the second (last) 8TB drive and insert the second 16 TB drive what will happen? Will the second 16TB drive mirror (SHR-1) the already inserted 16 TB? Is it possible to keep the second 16 TB drive from mirroring (SHR-1) the first and keep the second 16 TB drive as pure storage? My biggest concern is not to have to reinstall Plex Media Server (which is on the 8TB drive and try to get it running right on the new 16 TB drive. I spent almost four weeks working on PMS before I finally got it to work right and I don't want to lose it and start all over.
 
This is getting more complex than I like. If I bit the bullet and get two 16TB drives and then pull the first 8TB drive and insert the first new 16 TB drive it will be added as a SHR-1 (mirror)? Then If I pull the second (last) 8TB drive and insert the second 16 TB drive what will happen?
You are making this complex. You have 2×8 TB SHR. Replace one drive, and let the rebuild complete. Then replace the second drive and rebuild. Read the procedure I linked.

With 2×16 TB SHR you will have appx 16 TB (14.55 TiB) pool capacity. Volume capacity will be somewhat less.

If your end objective is different, please clarify.
 
OK, I get that I can replace two 8TBs for two 16 TBs and end up with about 14.5 TB storage (and the existing PMS installation?). What I am curious about is whether I have to have any mirror or SHR? I am not concerned with losing the media and data on the Synology due to disc failure or other things. I back up everything on external HDs not connected to my internal network so I always have a valid copy. All I want from the synology is a massive storage device that I can access all files and media from any number of devices. I'm trying to avoid having to swap both 8TB drives. I'd rather spend the money for one 16TB drive and use one of the 8 TB drives with it so I have 24TB of storage, not mirror or SHR.
 
What I am curious about is whether I have to have any mirror or SHR?
SHR is not a "must". That's your choice... if you just want maximum storage (32 TB / 29.1 TiB) your choices are:

Single pool/volume
2×16 TB JBOD
2×16 TB RAID0

or multiple pools/volumes
1×16 TB + 1×16 TB, with either pool being Basic/SHR/JBOD (mix and match if you prefer)

What is your desired "end game"?
 
Telos, thanks. My endgame is max storage, no desire for mirror or RAID. I would prefer to only replace one of the 8TB drives (so I don't have to buy two new 16TB drives, only one new 16TB drive). I want to use one of my existing 8TB drives and install a new 16TB. All I want for the 8TB drive is to have my existing PMS install and room for files and media, and the 16TB drive for more media and file storage. I don't want RAID or mirror, I only want max storage along with my existing PMS install (24TB = 8TB+16TB).

Single pool/volume
1x8TB
1x16TB

Is this possible?
 
Is this possible?
Yes but you will hav to start fresh consider you have a live SHR array. As Copp said already.

You can have this setup but you first have to break the existing pool and start over. In the end en you will get max storage but it won’t be automatic and you will have to make use of your backup as well in order to get it all up and running.
 
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All I want for the 8TB drive is to have my existing PMS install and room for files and media, and the 16TB drive for more media and file storage
To leave SHR means starting over and restoring from backups.

To move away from your existing SHR is going to be a challenge for Plex. While this can be done while retaining your media files, the actual Plex install and configuration will need to be backed up in a way it can be restored. I have not had great success with that (unless you are running Plex in a docker container).

I suspect that you will have to redo Plex from scratch.
 
suspect that you will have to redo Plex from scratch
It can be done just fine while following the official Plex KB migration article. Done it a few times now with no issues. True, docker would be the easiest but bare metal version migration works just as well.
 

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