Menu="Main:5"
Title="Array Operation"
---
function maintenance_mode() {
echo "
";
echo "
";
echo "
Maintenance mode
";
echo "
Maintenance mode - if checked, Start array but do not mount disks.
";
echo "
";
}
function status_indicator() {
global $var;
$ball = "/webGui/images/{$var['mdColor']}.png";
switch ($var['mdColor']) {
case 'green-on': $help = 'Started, array protected'; break;
case 'green-blink': $help = 'Stopped'; break;
case 'yellow-on': $help = 'Started, array unprotected'; break;
case 'yellow-blink': $help = 'Stopped'; break;
}
return "$help";
}
?>
if (isset($display['sleep'])) @include $display['sleep'];
?>
> **Colored Status Indicator** the significance of the color indicator of the *Array* is as follows:
>
> Array is Started and Parity is valid.
>
> Array is Stopped, Parity is valid.
>
> Array is Started, but Parity is invalid.
>
> Array is Stopped, Parity is invalid.
>
> #### Assigning Devices
>
> An unRAID disk array consists of a single parity disk and a number of data disks. The data
> disks are exclusively used to store user data, and the parity disk provides the redundancy necessary
> to recover from any singe disk failure.
>
> Note that we are careful to use the term *disk* when referring to an array storage device. We
> use the term *hard drive* (or sometimes just *drive*) when referring to an actual hard disk drive (HDD)
> device. This is because in a RAID system it is possible to read/write an array disk whose corresponding
> hard drive is disabled or even missing! In addition, it is useful to be able to ask, "which device is
> assigned to be the parity disk?"; or, "which device corresponds to disk2?".
>
> We therefore need a way to assign hard drives to array disks. This is accomplished here on the
> Main page when the array is stopped. There is a drop-down box for each array disk which lists all the
> unassigned devices. To assign a device simply select it from the list. Each time a device
> assignment is made, the system updates a configuration file to record the assignment.
>
> #### Requirements
>
> Unlike traditional RAID systems which stripe data across all the array devices, an unRAID server
> stores files on individual hard drives. Consequently, all file write operations will involve both the
> data disk the file is being written to, and the parity disk. For these reasons,
>
> * the parity disk size must be as large or larger than any of the data disks,
>
> and
>
> * given a choice, the parity disk should be the fastest disk in your collection.
>
> #### Guidelines
>
> Here are the steps you should follow when designing your unRAID disk array:
>
> 1. Decide which hard drive you will use for parity, and which hard drives you will use for
> data disk1, disk2, etc., and label them in some fashion. Also, find the serial number of each hard
> drive and jot it down somewhere; you will need this information later.
>
> 2. Install your hard drive devices, boot unRAID Server and bring up the webGui. If this is a fresh system
> build, then the Main page will show no disks installed. This doesn't mean the system can't detect your
> hard drives; it just means that none have been assigned yet.
>
> 3. Remember the serial numbers you recored back in step 1? For parity and each data disk, select the
> proper hard drive based on its serial number from the drop down list.
>
> #### Hot Plug
>
> You may also *hot plug* hard drives into your server if your hardware supports it. For example,
> if you are using hard drive cages, you may simply plug them into your server while powered on and
> with array Stopped. Refresh the Main page to have new unassigned devices appear in the assignment
> dropdown lists.
>
> #### Next Steps
>
> Once you have assigned all of your hard drives, refer to the Array Status section below
> and Start the array.