Add a new physical HDD to my existing system

[Deepak Agarwal]

Hi Everybody


I haven't yet built my new system but in the meanwhile I have bought an additional HDD (currently blank - haven't even formatted it yet - just added to the computer) which I want to add to my existing system running 9.1.1. Do I need to use 'Auto Import Volume', 'Import Volume' or use 'ZFS Volume Manager' to add this disk to my system so that I can create a new Windows share - this new share needs to be totally independent of the existing Windows share which is for the existing HDD?

I did read up on the documentation but am not totally sure which option do I need to take because the existing share has data on it and I don't want to loose/corrupt it. This is the bit that confuses me :-

"The Add Volume button warns that creating a volume destroys any existing data on the selected disk(s). In other words, creating a new volume reformats the selected disks. If your intent is to not overwrite the data on an existing volume, see if the volume format is supported by the auto-import or import actions."

In my case, since this is a new disk (unformatted) I can afford to loose everything on this disk but not on an existing volume which is on another physical HDD. In this case, can I safely click on the 'Add Volume - Existing Data Will Be Deleted" button and expect to add a new volume on which I can create new shares without affecting anything on my existing volumes and shares


Best regards


Deepak

 

[joeschmuck]

You need to create a new pool. Go to ZFS Volume Manager an enter a different pool name than the one you already have established. Create the pool of one drive. Now you will have a single drive ready to do as you will. Do not Extend your volume, if this drive fails for any reason, all your data will be lost! Do not do this.

 

[Deepak Agarwal]

Hi joeschmuck

I was a bit apprehensive doing this as when I went to do it, I had the two options viz to click on 'Add Extra Device' or 'Add Volume - Existing data will be cleared'.

I clicked the 'Add Volume - ...' and it seems to work ok!


Thanks for your help!


Best regards


Deepak

 

[joeschmuck]

No problem.