Setting up extendable storage

[ggoosen]

Hi

I am about to setup a freenas server, my question is.

If iI have 4 disks, and want to be able to add additional disks in the future? Is it possible with any configuration using raidz?

Seems you have to have the disks ready before you build the array, and the array cannot be extended?

WOuld i be better off going with Hardware RAID?

 

[joeschmuck]

Using ZFS you can extend the pool by adding vdevs. You should not of course add single hard drives. You should also read this:
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

 

[Artion]

To grow a RAIDZ you have to change all the disks in a pool with others that are bigger or if you want to add just one more disk you have to backup your data first, destroy your existing pool and recreate it with your new disk included and restore your backup.
Follow @joeschmuck tip:

Using ZFS you can extend the pool by adding vdevs. You should not of course add single hard drives. You should also read this:
https://forums.freenas.org/index.ph...ning-vdev-zpool-zil-and-l2arc-for-noobs.7775/

 

[ggoosen]

Yeh, ok so best practice is to create a new pool and move data. :| therby making sure we have enough drive bays in the hardware we select right?

 

[Stux]

If you were using striped mirrors (approx Raid10), then you could add another mirror to expand.

And that mirror can be composed of larger disks. So if you intend to grow piecemeal like this, going with mirrors can be a wise choice.

Of course, you only get 50% storage efficiency with mirrors.

 

[danb35]

Yeh, ok so best practice is to create a new pool and move data.

Depends what you're trying to do. If you want to move from, say, a 3-disk RAIDZ1 to a 4-disk RAIDZ1, then yes, you'll need to back up, destroy pool, recreate pool, restore. But if you have a 3-disk RAIDZ1 and buy three more disks, you can add a second 3-disk RAIDZ1 to the pool. RAIDZ2 is more recommended, but the same principles apply there.