Upgrading Raid 5 to larger disks - Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Mon, 27 Apr 2026 14:26:53 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Upgrading Raid 5 to larger disks https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-15129 Sun, 20 Mar 2022 05:39:24 +0000 @nathancahill 

Yes you would. Although I would keep the RAID as is and create a second RAID volume on the new enclosure. Easier to manage that way.

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-15129 RE: Upgrading Raid 5 to larger disks https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-15128 Sun, 20 Mar 2022 03:28:11 +0000 Sorry to resurface an old thread. I have 4, 4TB drives in a Thunderbay with RAID5. Am I correct in understanding that I can remove and then add larger disks, but not add more disks to the array? If I bought a second Thunderbay in the future for example, I'd have to destroy and recreate the array to add 4 new drives?

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize nathancahill https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-15128 RE: Upgrading Raid 5 to larger disks https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-8984 Sat, 17 Apr 2021 07:53:29 +0000 I think 85% is OK on a volume. (I don't know what the optimal limit is on APFS, I guess users will find out over time!)

Validate is safe. All it does is check adn update any parity blocks. There will probably be no updates until the last 20% or so of the volume. Validate does not touch your data.

Disk Warrior is the best way to protect your volume against volume directory damage, if you want to run a maintenance app.

 

To your question:

You can replace one disk at a time. Use "remove disk", then initialize and "Add disk". When all 4 are replaced,  you can "resize volume" to expand the volume size, and use the additional space available.

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-8984 Upgrading Raid 5 to larger disks https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-8982 Sat, 17 Apr 2021 03:48:31 +0000 Hello,

I have a 6x 4TB Raid 5 array in 2x OWC Thunderbay 4's. I've used 14TB of the 20TB available. Figure I shouldn't go over 15TB (75%), correct? Drives have about 17k hrs, HGST enterprise class.

 

So I'm thinking to 'upgrade' the array to 6TB or 8TB drives sometime in the near future. Prefer to keep Raid 5 for its speed.

 

I don't have enough drive bays to just add a second 6 drive array and transfer. What's the best practice?

 

Clone each drive one at a time with CCC? Or just replace drives one at a time and let it 'rebuild'?? I guess I could just use my individual backup drives (non-raid) to move the data.

 

Second question - I've just read that I should 'Validate' my array in Softraid regularly. I didn't realize and have run it for 6 years and never validated. Kind of scared to do so now if it means it'll need to rewrite tons of data. Any advice?

 

Cheers,

 

Chris

 

27" 5k iMac late-2014

OSX Yosemite

Softraid 5.8.4

2x OWC Thunderbay 4

6x 4TB Raid 5

]]> Managing Disks - Certify, Verify, Initialize Bermie https://forums.softraid.com/managing-disks-certify-verify-initialize/upgrading-raid-5-to-larger-disks/#post-8982