ZFS RAIDZ and Adding a HDD

[Yellowbeard]

I just built a new FreeNAS build to replace my old FreeNAS build due to aging HDDs. My old array has degraded and rebuilt a few times recently so I am anxious to get this new build going.

1 of the 4 Hitachi HITACHI Deathstar 5K3000 HHDs I bought is bad and I am in the process of an RMA. I am using the most recent FreeNAS 8.* release build.

My question is, can I build a RAIDZ volume now with the 3 good drives and seamlessly add the 4th when I get a replacement drive? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Yellowbeard]

I was impatient and got an answer at another forum. But, feel free to contribute if you like. I think my best option is to wait on the RMA drive. Newegg set me up with advanced replacement and next day air so I hope between the old server and backups on other HDDs, I'll be OK till then.

TIA for any additional info.

 

[Silenus]

Hi There!

PS- Enjoy your new setup once it's running. Should be nice!

 

[Yellowbeard]

Hi There!

PS- Enjoy your new setup once it's running. Should be nice!

Cyber stalker! Stranger Danger! 😛

I did some testing and watched the rates with Putty. It's definitely going to be WAYfaster than the old UFS/RAID-5 FreeNAS 6 x 500GB HDD setup.

 

[Mark R]

Hopefully, this will be the same answer you already got.

No. ZFS does not support RAIDZ array expansion.

If you want to expand a ZFS file system, you have to add a whole new 'pool' (i.e. a whole new RAIDZ array).

There is a workaround, where it is possible to replace the drives in a RAIDZ array with larger drives (remove a drive, replace it, allow the array to resync, repeat with next drive). Once all drives have been upgraded, the increased space becomes available.