Replace a RAID-Z disk using Web Interface?

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

My RAID-Z (FreeNAS-9.1.1-RELEASE-x64 (a752d35)) is made up of 4 x 2TB HDs but it is now showing as degraded because one of the disks seems to be failing. I have a spare 2TB HD to replace the dodgy disk but I can’t figure out how to go about this. I have searched the forum for an answer but everything that I have found involves using the terminal which is an alien world to me. Can replacing the drive not be done through the web interface? That’s about the only thing that I can handle.

 

[gpsguy]

Read section 6.3.12 (Replacing a Failed Drive ...) in the manual.

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Thanks gpsguy. It seems straightforward enough although I am having a little problem. I've got up to the replace part but I have got the message that the disk is not formatted freebsd-zfs. Can I format the disk like this whilst it is in place or shall I have to extract it and do it with my computer?

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Help! I keep getting a message about the 'devices have different sector alignment' or about being unable to format the drive. I don't understand. The replacement HD is exactly the same make and model as the one it's replacing.

 

[Dusan]

Help! I keep getting a message about the 'devices have different sector alignment' or about being unable to format the drive. I don't understand. The replacement HD is exactly the same make and model as the one it's replacing.

Please try to run these commands in the CLI before doing the replace (via GUI):
[PANEL]sysctl vfs.zfs.vdev.larger_ashift_minimal=0
sysctl vfs.zfs.vdev.larger_ashift_disable=1[/panel]

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Please try to run these commands in the CLI before doing the replace (via GUI):
[PANEL]sysctl vfs.zfs.vdev.larger_ashift_minimal=0
sysctl vfs.zfs.vdev.larger_ashift_disable=1[/panel]

I've just tried that Dusan and I'm still getting the 'devices have different sector alignment' message. :(

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

I'm still stuck trying to replace the failed HD. :(

RAID Z is supposed to offer a small level of security in that one HD can fail and be replaced without losing data but, if replacing the failed HD can't be done then that level of security is taken away. Perhaps it would be worthwhile looking at this to ensure that the process of replacement can be made to be relatively trouble free and that the instructions in the user manual actually work.

 

[Dusan]

I may want try to install FreeNAS 9.2.0 (or even the latest 9.2.1 ALPHA) to another USB stick, boot, import the pool and try the replace. There were ashift related changes in both releases.
You may also want to create a bug report here: https://bugs.freenas.org/projects/freenas/issues
Or maybe add your information to this bug report as it seems to be a related (same?) scenario: https://bugs.freenas.org/issues/3372

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Thanks Dusan. As you suggested I upgraded to 9.2.0 and now I have got the message 'Disk replacement initiated.' Hopefully that should be it sorted now. :) Have you any idea how long the process will take? There's no rush. I'm just curious.

O0ps! I spoke too soon. Now it won't accept my username and password! :(

 

[Dusan]

O0ps! I spoke too soon. Now it won't accept my username and password! :(

Use root instead of admin as the username.

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Use root instead of admin as the username.

Thanks, that worked. How was I supposed to know that though?

 

[Dusan]

Thanks, that worked. How was I supposed to know that though?

It's in the documentation and it is also mentioned in the 9.2.0 release notes: http://www.freenas.org/whats-new/2013/12/freenas-9-2-0-release.html

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

It's in the documentation and it is also mentioned in the 9.2.0 release notes: http://www.freenas.org/whats-new/2013/12/freenas-9-2-0-release.html

Hmm... I actually did look in the documentation before I asked but I didn't see that. Thank you once again.

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

OK I have replaced the drive but the volume is still showing an alert. The old HD is showing as 'Removed' and the new one as 'Offline.' I 'Detached' the replaced HD but I'm not sure how to get the new HD 'Online.' I have read the manual but I'm afraid that I cannot see how to do this.

 

[Dusan]

Can you please post output of "zpool status"? Please use CODE tags.

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Can you please post output of "zpool status"? Please use CODE tags.

I would appreciate a little help if you could tell me how to do this.

 

[DrKK]

ssh (or shell) into your FreeNAS, type "zpool status", copy and paste that into a forum message, but precede it with the word "code" in square brackets, and succeed it with "/code" in square brackets. Alternatively, you can put it in pastebin.com, and post the link here. If you go to pastebin.com, it should be self-explanatory.

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

Thanks. I can't copy paste as I don't know how to 'shell' from my computer but I have a monitor connected to my NAS so I did the next best thing and photographed the screen.

 

[Dusan]

Does "zpool online pool_name /dev/ada1p2" help?

 

[OneStickShortOfaBundle]

I'm afraid not Dusan. All I get are messages about 'cannot destroy snapshot' and 'unsupported version or feature.'

***Update***
Scrub the above. It turns out the I was mistyping my server name. Silly me!
What I see now is this :-