Rebuild RAID 1 array without waiting for failure

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steveluscher
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Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:06 am

Rebuild RAID 1 array without waiting for failure

Post by steveluscher »

Here is what I would like to do with my TS-209:

1) Start with a working RAID 1 array
2) Remove one of the drives and store it offsite as a backup
3) Insert a new drive identical to the one I just removed
4) Have the NAS rebuild the RAID 1 array using the old installed drive as the source

If I could do this, it would make offsite backups so quick and easy; swap the drives out, start the rebuild, and store the removed drive offsite.

Is this possible?
cfo_work
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Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:39 pm

Re: Rebuild RAID 1 array without waiting for failure

Post by cfo_work »

This is a ideal case. Please put a dump data to "raid1", and do your experiment to confirm your idea.

But , raid 1 will mirror WHOLE disk even the place is no data,
therefore, time will be consume.

Please share your experiment result in this forum :)

steveluscher wrote:Here is what I would like to do with my TS-209:

1) Start with a working RAID 1 array
2) Remove one of the drives and store it offsite as a backup
3) Insert a new drive identical to the one I just removed
4) Have the NAS rebuild the RAID 1 array using the old installed drive as the source

If I could do this, it would make offsite backups so quick and easy; swap the drives out, start the rebuild, and store the removed drive offsite.

Is this possible?
steveluscher
New here
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:06 am

Post by steveluscher »

Can you please clarify what you mean by "please put a dump data to 'raid 1'"? I don't understand.

I don't have the liberty to do experiments; the data on my RAID 1 array is live, valuable, and not backed up anywhere else.
cfo_work
Starting out
Posts: 40
Joined: Mon Sep 10, 2007 5:39 pm

Post by cfo_work »

:shock: Oh, DON'T do the experiment, if you're already use the TS in raid1.
steveluscher wrote:Can you please clarify what you mean by "please put a dump data to 'raid 1'"? I don't understand.

I don't have the liberty to do experiments; the data on my RAID 1 array is live, valuable, and not backed up anywhere else.
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kent
QNAP Staff
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Re: Rebuild RAID 1 array without waiting for failure

Post by kent »

steveluscher wrote:Here is what I would like to do with my TS-209:

1) Start with a working RAID 1 array
2) Remove one of the drives and store it offsite as a backup
3) Insert a new drive identical to the one I just removed
4) Have the NAS rebuild the RAID 1 array using the old installed drive as the source

If I could do this, it would make offsite backups so quick and easy; swap the drives out, start the rebuild, and store the removed drive offsite.

Is this possible?
The purpose of RAID 1 is not to backup your data. We don't suggest you do that.
RAID 1 is to protect your data when one of your HDD become fail.
I am Kent. Nice to meet you!
steveluscher
New here
Posts: 8
Joined: Sun Sep 30, 2007 7:06 am

Post by steveluscher »

Understood.

That out of the way – is there a way to make this work? I could imagine a situation whereby you might be able to simulate a failure on one drive, forcing a rebuild.

If one knew where to set the "this drive has failed" flag, perhaps you could trick the TS-209 into rebuilding the array onto a fresh hard disk.

Any thoughts?
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kent
QNAP Staff
Posts: 198
Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 5:21 pm
Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Post by kent »

steveluscher wrote:Understood.

That out of the way – is there a way to make this work? I could imagine a situation whereby you might be able to simulate a failure on one drive, forcing a rebuild.

If one knew where to set the "this drive has failed" flag, perhaps you could trick the TS-209 into rebuilding the array onto a fresh hard disk.

Any thoughts?
If you would like to test the rebuilding function, follow below steps:
1. Make the volume as RAID 1
2. Hot-swap HDD 1 or HDD 2
3. After heard bee...the raid status is in degraded mode. You can check it via web management page.
4. hen plug-in the original HDD
5. After heard bee...the raid status is in rebuilding . You can check it via web management page.

However, I strongly recommand that the purpose of RAID 1 is not to backup your data.
Please carefully do the test, and always remember to backup your important data first!
I am Kent. Nice to meet you!
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