Question Is it possible Expanding my NAS SHR Storage

[Victel]

I have a Synology 4-BAY disk station (DS416J) that I want to add more drives to but I'm confused if that's possible. I'm currently out of space on my 8TB RED Drive and I want to add an 18TB red drive to expand the storage. The raid type is SHR. (without data protection.) Is this possible without needing to erase everything or move my files? Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

They don't talk to each other. They contain separate data

So the "SHR" is irrelevant, and they are just individual drives.

What would I do....

Add the 18TB to the 4 bay.
Copy the data from both 8TB to the 18TB. Yes, this WILL take a while.
But it provides a second copy during this process.

Move the 1 bay 8TB to the 4 bay.
Verify that data still exists.
Move the 18TB to the 1 bay.

Create some automated schedule to copy from the 2x 8TB to the 18TB in the other NAS.

 

[Victel]

So the "SHR" is irrelevant, and they are just individual drives.

What would I do....

Add the 18TB to the 4 bay.
Copy the data from both 8TB to the 18TB. Yes, this WILL take a while.
But it provides a second copy during this process.

Move the 1 bay 8TB to the 4 bay.
Verify that data still exists.
Move the 18TB to the 1 bay.

Create some automated schedule to copy from the 2x 8TB to the 18TB in the other NAS.

I can simply moved the drives around freely without any problems? What if I add another 8tb to my 4 bay later on?

 

[USAFRet]

I can simply moved the drives around freely without any problems? What if I add another 8tb to my 4 bay later on?

There is ALWAYS a possibility of "problems".
Something as simple as fumble finger dropping a drive while moving it from NAS to NAS. Yes, I've seen this happen.

This is why there needs to be a second copy of all data in this process.

 

[Victel]

There is ALWAYS a possibility of "problems".
Something as simple as fumble finger dropping a drive while moving it from NAS to NAS. Yes, I've seen this happen.

This is why there needs to be a second copy of all data in this process.

I just meant getting the os to recognize that I moved the data and drives

 

[USAFRet]

I just meant getting the os to recognize that I moved the data and drives

That would probably work. It depends on how you set them up in each NAS.
But always prepare for the worst case scenario.
oops, I dtropped it
oops, I clicked the wrong thing
oops, I formatted the wrong drive
oops oops oops

I personally wouldn't start moving things around without a known good copy.

 

[Victel]

That would probably work. It depends on how you set them up in each NAS.
But always prepare for the worst case scenario.

I personally wouldn't start moving things around without a known good copy.

Is it a good idea to turn the two 8tb into a raid setup once I backup the data to the 18tb?

 

[USAFRet]

Is it a good idea to turn the two 8tb into a raid setup once I backup the data to the 18tb?

You can if you want, but I wouldn't.
Indeed, I had 2x 8TB as a RAID in my QNAP. Have since undone it, in favor of individual drives and volumes.

And that WILL require full formatting of both 8TB.

 

[Victel]

You can if you want, but I wouldn't.
Indeed, I had 2x 8TB as a RAID in my QNAP. Have since undone it, in favor of individual drives and volumes.

And that WILL require full formatting of both 8TB.

I'll backup all my stuff to the 18tb and move my two 8tb to my 4 bay and go from there

 

[USAFRet]

I'll backup all my stuff to the 18tb and move my two 8tb to my 4 bay and go from there

That works.