https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:32:24 +0000 wpForo 60 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2533 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 04:01:54 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2533 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2531 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 22:36:06 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize DesertNomad https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2531 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2530 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 21:01:11 +0000 As the formatted capacities are slightly different (3720MB) vs 3725MB, how does SoftRAID work? Is it not a block-level mirror? I don't really know how it works but it just seems much better to have the exact same mechanism in all four slots. I have considered returning the unit to B&H and trying to get one with Toshiba drives (as OWC specs them) so that all my main drives in both units as well as my spare match. What is the shelf life of a drive? I could obviously re-certify it if needed once a year or so. If the drive is smaller, then it cannot be added to the mirroror RAID volume. You can resize the volume slightly (reduce it) to make it match the extra disk. You can replace your drive, but I would not consider it a priority. SoftRAID does not care about drive manufacturer, as long as it is reliable. it is unlikely to make any difference. The shelf life of a drive is a fair question. If you recertify it each year, probably similar to a drive in use. when a drive sits, its possible the lubricants can stick, which used to be an issue, but not so much any longer. The theoretical answer is 5 years. But I don not know of any statistical study supporting this number.]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2530 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2529 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 20:56:48 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2529 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2528 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 19:59:49 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize DesertNomad https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2528 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2527 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 19:47:30 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize DesertNomad https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2527 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2526 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 17:17:15 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-2526 https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-460 Sat, 13 Jan 2018 15:41:41 +0000 Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize DesertNomad https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/certifying-a-disk-without-rebuilding/#post-460