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[NathanYang]

I have my 1st HD (Seagate ST32000542AS 2TB with about 700GB data) and today I purchased 2nd HD (WDC 2TB, new). I format WDC HD to standard.

I insert 1st HD (Seagate) at left bay and 2nd HD (WDC) at right Bay. I wish to KEEP my 700GB data at 1st HD and synchnize to 2nd HD by RAID 1.

Current RAID Type
Volume_2: Standard
Volume_1: Standard

when I click Set Raid type and Reformat button, Choose RAID 1 in Step 2, Disabled Auto_rebuild, then confirmed Raid Size setting, then I was asked to format to RAID 1??? Should I click format? then I am worry about both HDDs data will be erased and I got a 2TB RAID 1 volume with NO data? I am afraid to lose my 700 GB data.

What should I do? I do not want to take the risk of losing 700 GB. But I have no where to backup these 700 GB data.

 

[NathanYang]

I think it is quit common to upgrade from 1 HD (standard) to 2 HD (RAID1). I am quite sure that I am not the 1st one to ask this question. Is there any post already fixed that issue? I think it should be put on the TOP and also in FAQ.

[JavaLawyer]

I think it is quit common to upgrade from 1 HD (standard) to 2 HD (RAID1). I am quite sure that I am not the 1st one to ask this question. Is there any post already fixed that issue? I think it should be put on the TOP and also in FAQ.

The answer is in the FAQ: DNS ShareCenter - Standard Volume to RAID-1 Conversion

[shabuboy]

"What should I do? I do not want to take the risk of losing 700 GB. But I have no where to backup these 700 GB data."

By not having a backup, you are risking losing you data every day/hour/minute/second. This applies even after migrating to Raid-1.

Raid-1 is not backup, it is redundancy. Backup is multiple copies at different media.

[NathanYang]

Thanks JavaLawyer. But I have read the post in FAQ.

the difference is: I have 1 old HDD and 1 new HDD. But in the post, you asume that someone has 1 old HDD and 2 new HDDs.

Even I have 2 new HDDs, the question is: How to transfer the data from the legacy HDD to the new HDD? Last night, I put both HDDs in DNS320. The old one is Volume_1 and the new empty one is Volume_2. I tried to copy everything from Volume-1 to Volume_2. But it was unbelievable slow. Less than 2M/sec, I have to speed a whole week to copy these 700 GB data. That's not realistic.

[perfectdark]

Below are the instaructions from the FAQ, i dont see why this wouldnt work by just adding a 2nd hard drive
•Power-up the DNS series device
•Configure the new HDD as a Standard Volume   (this is already done with the existing hard drive)
•Transfer the data from the legacy HDD to the new HDD (skip this spet as there is no "old hdd" the current hard drive has the data and is a standard mode)
•Power-down the DNS series device
•Remove the legacy HDD and install the second new HDD in the open slot (would just be installing the new 2nd hdd)
•Power-up the DNS series device
•The DNS series device should provide an option to create a RAID-1 array (select this option)

wouldnt this work by just adding a new hard drive to 2nd slot?

[JavaLawyer]

@perfectdark - you are correct.

Nonetheless, this (or any) procedure that impacts your data should not be performed without maintaining a separate physical copy of your data. Since you are not maintaining a backup, I recommend configuring your DNS-320 as two Standard Volumes rather than RAID-1.

[NathanYang]

@perfectdark @JavaLawyer

The last Step:
The DNS series device should provide an option to create a RAID-1 array (select this option)

a quick question: after the RAID1 was done on two hard disks, is there any data in the new RAID1 volume? or just empty volume without data?

[JavaLawyer]

@perfectdark @JavaLawyer

The last Step:
The DNS series device should provide an option to create a RAID-1 array (select this option)

a quick question: after the RAID1 was done on two hard disks, is there any data in the new RAID1 volume? or just empty volume without data?

Your data should be preserved (I make no guarantees). Again, do not attempt this procedure unless you have a full backup of your data on another physical HDD. You should configure your DNS-320 as two Standard Volumes until you have a robust backup strategy in place.

• DNS ShareCenter - Data Backup Versus Redundancy

[NathanYang]

PERFECT, life is sooooooooooooo good.

I converted 2 standard HDDs into RAID1. After formating, I got a CLEAN, EMPTY volume.

I had backup important data. What I lost was just some movies. So never mind... I will copy them back from my friends.

What I learned is, maybe it is still possible to convert standard to RAID1 without losing data, but DO NOT take the Risk. If you think DLINK DNS 320 (firmware 2.02) is a mature product, you could convert to RAID1 without backup all your data, THINK AGAIN!