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[DoctorSky]

I have a DNS343.  I have 4 drives set up as two (2) RAID 1 Drives.  Can I easily change the four (4) drives to 4 standard Non-RAID drives without losing my data?

[JaLooNz]

This is called RAID expansion and is not supported.

[JavaLawyer]

The answer depends on how your array is configured.  Do you have two independent RAID 1 arrays, where HDD1 mirrors HDD2 and HDD3 mirrors HDD4? Or one RAID 1 array, where HDD1+HDD2 (Volume_1) mirrors HDD3+HDD4 (Volume_2)?

I have a DNS343.  I have 4 drives set up as two (2) RAID 1 Drives.  Can I easily change the four (4) drives to 4 standard Non-RAID drives without losing my data?

[DoctorSky]

Thanks for your reply.

My configuration is as with your first description.  HDD1 mirrors HDD2 and HDD3 mirrors HDD4 in two independent RAID 1 arrays.  It is set up as two independent Volumes.

[JavaLawyer]

Here's a method that might work. I've read instances where users applied the following procedure on the DNS-323, which has two slots, but do not know how the DNS-343 will respond. If this procedure works, you will have a partial solution (and at the very least a means of copying your data over to properly formatted HDDs without using an external device). There are no guarantees, so make a full backup of all critical data before proceeding.

(1) Backup all data
(2) Shutdown the DNS-343, insert a HDD in slot 1, and format as a Standard volume
(3) Shutdown the DNS-343, insert one HDD from your first RAID-1 array in slot 2
(4) Restart. If this works the second HDD will be recognized as a standard volume

Whether this will also work for slots 3 and 4 is anyone's guess.

Again, backup all your data before trying this.

[DoctorSky]

Thanks.

Just so I'm clear, are you saying start by removing all Drives from the DNS-343, and then insert the first HDD in Slot 1 only?

[JavaLawyer]

Just so I'm clear, are you saying start by removing all Drives from the DNS-343, and then insert the first HDD in Slot 1 only?

Yes.

Please keep in mind that this approach is purely hypothetical for the DNS-343.  As such, I don't feel comfortable recommending this to you as a solution for critical data.