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[davidwyatt6]

I'm using a Raid configuration, drives are about half full (two 1tb drives)
I don't know anything about Linix so please forgive my ignorance.

Is there a way, or even a need to defragment the drives?
I have tried multiple programs none see the drives at all.

Thanks

[jswashburn]

Is there a way, or even a need to defragment the drives?

Not really. Not unless you're constantly storing, erasing, and/or modifying content on a daily bases.

I have tried multiple programs none see the drives at all.

...and they wont. The only utility available to defrag EXT2 volumes is called e2defrag. First; It's only available on Linux. Second; It can only be ran while the volume is "off-line".

The only option you have at defragmenting the DNS-321 would be transfer all data off the unit, and then back on it again. But I doubt you have another external or internal drive large enough to hold all of your data.

[fordem]

The only option you have at defragmenting the DNS-321 would be transfer all data off the unit, and then back on it again. But I doubt you have another external or internal drive large enough to hold all of your data.

Now this simply highlights a mistake that too many people make - not backing up the data.

Even with a RAID1 configuration the data still needs to be backed up, RAID1 will only protect you from a failed disk, there are other causes of data loss & corruption that need to be considered.

[ECF]

The drives in the DNS-321 format in EXT2 and do not really need to be defragmented as do not get fragmented as drives running FAT FAT32 and NTFS do. I would not worry about it too much davidwyatt6.

[bspvette86]

The drives in the DNS-321 format in EXT2 and do not really need to be defragmented as do not get fragmented as drives running FAT FAT32 and NTFS do. I would not worry about it too much davidwyatt6.

 

ECF,
I laugh out loud every time I see someone post that EXT2 does not really need to be defragmented.  Just for kicks today, I backed up everything on my DNS-323, blew away everthing, and reformatted it as "individual disks".  I then copied everything back twice, once to each Volume.  Volume_1 was loaded with a 10 stream FTP copy.  Volume_2 was loaded with a sequential 1 stream FTP copy.   Would you like to guess which volume performed better and by how much?  I was SHOCKED  to find that reading a 500 MB .mpg file took 3 times longer on Volume_1 than on Volume_2. 

Please do not tell us how EXT2 does not fragment.  Or are non-contiguous files not the same as fragmented? 

Cheers!
BSPVette

[fordem]

ECF,
I laugh out loud every time I see someone post that EXT2 does not really need to be defragmented.  Just for kicks today, I backed up everything on my DNS-323, blew away everthing, and reformatted it as "individual disks".  I then copied everything back twice, once to each Volume.  Volume_1 was loaded with a 10 stream FTP copy.  Volume_2 was loaded with a sequential 1 stream FTP copy.   Would you like to guess which volume performed better and by how much?  I was SHOCKED  to find that reading a 500 MB .mpg file took 3 times longer on Volume_1 than on Volume_2. 

Please do not tell us how EXT2 does not fragment.  Or are non-contiguous files not the same as fragmented? 

Cheers!
BSPVette

I'd love to see this posted over in the "other forum" - it should generate a very interesting debate.

[ebozzz]

I had to bring this one back to life. I also have a DNS-321 and would like to find a reasonable means of being able to defrag the 321. My situation is different though. My drives are formatted in NTFS which allows me to be able to access from Windows or Linux without problems. Are there any third party options that anyone is aware of that would perform task? Thanks..... 

[fordem]

If your drives are formatted NTFS - put them in (or connect them directly to) a Windows system and defrag them there - I have yet to see a defragmentation utility that runs across a network and defrags the drives attached to a different host.

[ebozzz]

Thanks for the reply. In hindsight, I wish that I had spent the extra coin on the DNS-323 which I think has the defrag tool built in.That unit will probably be my next storage purchase unless I find something that it more attractive. Thanks again..... 

[Piotr]

I wish that I had spent the extra coin on the DNS-323 which I think has the defrag tool built in.

Unfortunately defrag in DNS-323 was removed in firmware 1.02 (together with scandisk tool)