Hello,
I have a FreeNAS-8.3.1-BETA3-x64 (r13264) installation with (2) Seagate Barracuda 1.5 TB drives (model ST31500341AS) configured in a mirror (RAID1).
I’m running out of space and have purchased a single Seagate Desktop 3 TB drive (model ST3000DM001) to initiate replacing the original mirror. I intend to buy a second 3 TB drive as soon as I know the first ST3000DM001 will work in this server.
Since the original drives have 512 Byte sectors, and the new one(s) have the Seagate SmartAlign Advanced Format 4K sectors (4K physical emulated at 512-byte sectors), what is the easiest safe way to go about introducing the new drive(s)?
I am aware of 2 options:
Option (1) seems easier to me (requires buying less hardware and the copying is done automatically). Option (2) seems safer to me, but that could be just because this is my first foray into Advanced Format drives (and mixing them with non-Advanced format drives at that). I am worried that there are gotchas lurking there.
What do you recommend? And what should I look out for?
Thanks!
I have a FreeNAS-8.3.1-BETA3-x64 (r13264) installation with (2) Seagate Barracuda 1.5 TB drives (model ST31500341AS) configured in a mirror (RAID1).
I’m running out of space and have purchased a single Seagate Desktop 3 TB drive (model ST3000DM001) to initiate replacing the original mirror. I intend to buy a second 3 TB drive as soon as I know the first ST3000DM001 will work in this server.
Since the original drives have 512 Byte sectors, and the new one(s) have the Seagate SmartAlign Advanced Format 4K sectors (4K physical emulated at 512-byte sectors), what is the easiest safe way to go about introducing the new drive(s)?
I am aware of 2 options:
(1) Replace one of the 1.5 TB drives with the new 3 TB drive and let the mirror rebuild. Once the mirror has rebuilt, replace the remaining 1.5 TB drive with a second 3 TB drive. Once the 1st 3 TB drive has copied to the 2nd 3 TB drive, the job is complete.
(2) Buy the second 3 TB drive now, then build a second file server with the (2) 3 TB disks. Initiate a copy across the network of all data from the old file server to the new file server. Once the old file server has copied to the new file server, the job is complete.
(2) Buy the second 3 TB drive now, then build a second file server with the (2) 3 TB disks. Initiate a copy across the network of all data from the old file server to the new file server. Once the old file server has copied to the new file server, the job is complete.
Option (1) seems easier to me (requires buying less hardware and the copying is done automatically). Option (2) seems safer to me, but that could be just because this is my first foray into Advanced Format drives (and mixing them with non-Advanced format drives at that). I am worried that there are gotchas lurking there.
What do you recommend? And what should I look out for?
Thanks!