Adding capacity on HP microserver 40L

[new_balou]

Hi,

I've got a HP microserver 40L running FreeNas 8.3.0

Inside are 4 x 2 TB HDDs (Total RAID5 capacity = 5.2 TB)

But this volume is currently running out of space....

I just put an additional 3 TB HDD as a replacement to the CD-rom drive.

I don't think it's possible (without erasing all the DATA) to extend the existing 5.2 TB RAID volume with this new 3 TB drive.

Would it be possible to create a second VOLUME without erasing any of the data on the first one ?

In the "Volume Manager" section of the web interface, maybe I could try :
- VOLUME NAME : a new name, let's say "DATA2"
- VOLUME TO EXTEND : "----"
- MEMBER DISK : i select the new 3 TB disk

I'm terrified because the system says :"Add Volume Existing data will be cleared". I fell it's a little bit like the "russian roulette" !

I don't want to loose any of the data on my existing 5.2 TB volume. I just want to create a brand new one (NOT RAID evidently) that would be sitting next to the original one.

Can anyone confirm me that this procedure is OK or not ?

Thx

 

[paleoN]

What's the output of:

Code:

zpool status -v

Would it be possible to create a second VOLUME without erasing any of the data on the first one ?

Of course you can create a second separate pool. I consider it a bit foolish to have a single 3 TB drive pool without any backups or redundancy. I would at least mirror the thing.

 

[gpsguy]

Are you running one of the hacked BIOS', that support AHCI on that interface?

I just put an additional 3 TB HDD as a replacement to the CD-rom drive.

 

[new_balou]

Good question....No I'm not !
Do I have to ?

 

[gpsguy]

The eSATA and CD-Rom connections run in IDE mode, whereas the 4 drive bays support AHCI. There are a couple of non-HP BIOS replacements.

Here's a link to one from TheBay - microserver-updated-ahci-bios.

Since I don't have a need (yet) to run more than 4 hard disks in my Microserver, I'm using the stock BIOS.

 

[new_balou]

All right, thanks !

 

[Veti]

here is a picture what someone did to fit 6 disc into the n40l

http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=11585.msg139441#msg139441

you will need to route the esata port back into the case for that.

 

[gpsguy]

@Veti, yes I'd seen that mod.

As I recall jgreco put a 4 in 1 device for 2.5" disks, connected to a separate RAID controller in his N36L.


Sent from my phone

 

[new_balou]

I connected everything, FreeNas sees all 6 HDDs in the system, but when I try to add a new volume (based on the new 2x3 TB disks), it says : " unable to GPT format the disk XXX".

same message with NTFS-formated HDDs or non-formated HDDs

What am I missing here ?

 

[new_balou]

I finally managed to get over the "unable to GPT format" problem.