Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize - SoftRAID Forum https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Thu, 23 Apr 2026 10:47:25 +0000 wpForo 60 Can I Continue Using RAID4 Volume While Degraded? https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/can-i-continue-using-raid4-volume-while-degraded/ Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:02:08 +0000 Hello all,

I received a message that a drive was predicted to fail, so I removed the drive and inserted a new one and begun the certification process. It's a 12TB drive so it will take nearly a week to certify. And yes—all data is backed up both locally and in the cloud.

During this lengthy period of time, can I continue to use the Volume? I realize it's in a precarious state, but it would be nice to continue to use the Volume, and then backup any new files created or modified to my other RAID Volume which is my process. This should prevent data loss, but I'm not clear if the Volume missing the disk is even usable at the moment and could use some clarity.

For instance, my Lightroom files are stored on the RAID4 that is currently missing a disk. It would be a pain to have to redirect Lightroom to the other RAID Volume. 

Thanks in advance,

Dave

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize davecooperphoto https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/can-i-continue-using-raid4-volume-while-degraded/ Change enclosure / use enclosure for mutliple array https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/change-enclosure-use-enclosure-for-mutliple-array/ Tue, 16 Sep 2025 06:34:10 +0000 Hello 

I need more space. However not accessible all the time. Is it possible to use the same OWC 4-bay enclosure for two (or more) sets of 4-disk-RAID5 and just swap the disks depending on which data i need? And is it also possible to easily change enclosure? 

Thanks and best

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize Nightjar https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/change-enclosure-use-enclosure-for-mutliple-array/ Tried to upgrade drive and a drive failed. Can't rebuild. Any advice or is everything lost? https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/tried-to-upgrade-drive-and-a-drive-failed-cant-rebuild-any-advice-or-is-everything-lost/ Mon, 25 Aug 2025 17:54:02 +0000 Hi, I recently tried to replace one of the drives in my Softraid and as it was rebuilding it failed. I luckily had the old drive and put it back in but it's listed as 'out-of-sync' i've tried rebuild multiple times and it just errors out. Anyone have any advice or suggestions or is everything just lost? Can attach logs as well.

 

 

Images with Information

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize asc123 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/tried-to-upgrade-drive-and-a-drive-failed-cant-rebuild-any-advice-or-is-everything-lost/ Rebuilding new 4 Seagate Ironwolf Pro 16TB No indicator lights on two drives https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/rebuilding-new-4-seagate-ironwolf-pro-16tb-no-indicator-lights-on-two-drives/ Tue, 20 May 2025 14:01:56 +0000 Hi, I have updated my drives to the Seagate ironwolf pro 16tb. After initializing, adding, and rebuilding each drive I had tried transferring data from a CF card to the RAID 5 and got an Unmount error for one of the drives. I also experienced a pink flash &  mac shutdown after rebuilding and trying again. I sent the drive back and just initialized a new drive and it is rebuilding now. 

However, I am not seeing any indicator light on that drive, OR drive D. I can only blink the lights on A & C. I did see drive D's indicator when transferring data last night, but it no longer shows, even when all 4 drives are in and I start up I only see A & C lights. 

 

Attaching a log from when the drive unmounted as well as a current log. 

First Log

2903

Second

2904]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize matty https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/rebuilding-new-4-seagate-ironwolf-pro-16tb-no-indicator-lights-on-two-drives/ New Chassis and all new Drive Certification Failure https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/new-chassis-and-all-new-drive-certification-failure/ Sat, 15 Mar 2025 22:33:43 +0000 Hi Everyone, 

 

I am completely brand new to SoftRAID after being a Drobo user for 17 years due to the recent board failure of my primary Drobo.

I purchased 4 brand new IronWolf 8TB Drives for use in the new OWC Mercury Pro Enclosure I also just bought.

During the certification process, I have received errors on all drives with one drive already marked as "Certify Failed" and the remaining three still processing.

Honestly, I've never encountered a faulty drive on purchase is all the years I have been doing so, and so I am concerned that maybe this is a sign of another problem.

I am attaching the current SoftRAID Log as a screenshot and am wondering if the triggering of the SMART Test mid certification may be a sign of something with the chassis or Mac rather than the drives.

2842

 The Chassis is connected directly to a Mac Mini M2 with the provided USB-C cable into one of the Thunderbolt ports on the Mac. I also have an OWC miniStack STX connected (and the Drobo was also connected for a period across this window). I mention the miniStackSTX only because it has in the past randomly rebooted or disconnected from the Mac or failed to spin up it's internal drive.

Thanks for your time reading and any assistance.

Michael

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize mpschaefer https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/new-chassis-and-all-new-drive-certification-failure/ certify 4 x 16tb hdd Thunderbay 4 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certify-4-x-16tb-hdd-thunderbay-4/ Wed, 15 Jan 2025 23:06:11 +0000
I need to certify 4 x 16tb Exos drives for use in a Thunderbay 4. 
If it matters, I am on sequoia, using an m4 pro chip.

1. How long will this process take in total for four disks?
 
2. Does the process certify all four disks at the same time? 

Otherwise, can I divide it between two units? I have a Thunderbay 4 and an OWC dual HDD (toaster style) dock. I could use two computers to each verify 2 disks, if that would speed things up. 

Thanks.

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize samtenpa https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certify-4-x-16tb-hdd-thunderbay-4/ May never do this but have wondered for at least 3 years https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/may-never-do-this-but-have-wondered-for-at-least-3-years/ Sat, 21 Dec 2024 19:30:04 +0000 Since I have some time out of the office and am migrating from an Intel MBP to an M2 Ultra Studio waiting on my desk to be powered up in January, I have to ask:

 

In the SoftRaid user guide, it very clearly says that internal SSDs on Macs can indeed be certified:

Can I certify the disk in my Mac?

If you just purchased a new Mac and are willing to reinstall Mac OS X and the software which came with it, we recommend you certify the internal disk. You will need to startup from a volume on an external disk before you can certify the internal disk. After you have certified the internal disk, you can reinstall Mac OS X and the software you want to use.

 

As I'm on Monterey 12.7.6 on the now 4-year old Intel MBP, since going to Monterey I have been aware that external booting is not really still a thing. 

Is there any way around this, or is it cut and dry: is it no longer possible at all to certify the internal SSD of a Mac?

Not so much thinking of doing that on the new Studio. But upon migration and closing down this 4-year old computer, I thought about certification in order to (A) just do it since I always wanted to, (B) as a confirmation of disk health. 

 

My question is if this simply isn't really possible anymore from Mojave forward. 

 

(p.s. I'm starting to wonder if I'm wrong, and if maybe it's just that I couldn't really create bootable backups using CCC from Mojave forward. Can I still install the macOS on a bootable thumb drive and use that to certify the internal MBP SSD?)

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize GuitarFlex https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/may-never-do-this-but-have-wondered-for-at-least-3-years/ Error when certifying Seagate drives (only for one of them) https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/error-when-certifying-seagate-drives-only-for-one-of-them/ Thu, 10 Oct 2024 04:40:58 +0000 I just got a Thunderbay 4 OWC with 4x Seagate IronWolf Pro, 20 TB, Enterprise NAS Internal HDD. I was able to start certifying 3 of the drives but the last one beeps when I install it. When it finally stopped beeping and showed up in softraid 8, I went to certify that 4th drive and got the following error: 

SoftRAID Error

An error occurred certifying a disk. There was an error writing to this disk.

Disk with error: disk2, SATA (Thunderbolt), 20 TB

 

Any idea what the issue could be?

 

-jon

 

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize jonjones605 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/error-when-certifying-seagate-drives-only-for-one-of-them/ Replacing Multiple Hard Drives (Rebuild each drive? or Restore from backup?) https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/replacing-multiple-hard-drives-rebuild-each-drive-or-restore-from-backup/ Sat, 18 May 2024 00:41:16 +0000 I am running out of room and am going to replace my four 6tb drives with larger drives.  I understand that I can replace and rebuild each drive individually and then increase the volume size, which seems very time consuming.  Alternatively, could I back up my data, remove and replace all four drives at the same time, creating an new unused raid volume, and then copy the data to the "new" volume?  Does anyone have experience with doing it this way?  What is the best practice for preserving data?

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize Theodore https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/replacing-multiple-hard-drives-rebuild-each-drive-or-restore-from-backup/ RAID 5 Disc replacement with a larger capacity HD https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/raid-5-disc-replacement-with-a-larger-capacity-hd/ Mon, 19 Feb 2024 20:20:51 +0000 I want to replace a predicted to fail 6TB Seagate drive with a larger capacity drive and resize the RAID 5 Volume. I am using Thunderbay Flex8 with 4 6TB HDD in one volume with Mac OS Sonoma. SoftRAID 7.6.1. One of the disc needs to be replaced. Questions:

1. Can I hot-swap the failing drive?

    1a: Does the replacement drive need to be exactly the same make, model, and capacity? 

2. Instead of using the 6TB HDD, can I use a larger capacity HDD? 

    2a: If I replaced 6TB HDD with say a 10TB drive, will it increase the RAID5 Volume, or will I need to replace and rebuild ALL 4, one by one, to increase the size?

Will appreciate any feedback. 

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize drsnmd https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/raid-5-disc-replacement-with-a-larger-capacity-hd/