Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. - SoftRAID Volumes https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/ SoftRAID Discussion Board en-US Tue, 21 Apr 2026 05:07:55 +0000 wpForo 60 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17414 Mon, 07 Nov 2022 03:40:49 +0000 @wmb 

Attach a tech support file from that System. I can look. (with the disks connected of course!)

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17414 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17410 Sun, 06 Nov 2022 17:23:53 +0000 I downloaded SoftRaid 6.0.5 to the Big Sur MacBook and connected to the Thunderbay without difficulty but I get the same message from soft raid that I cannot increase the size of the 32 TB volume.

 

WMB

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17410 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17407 Sun, 06 Nov 2022 16:53:56 +0000 Yes.  i have a Macbook Pro running Big Sur 11.4.

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17407 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17402 Sat, 05 Nov 2022 23:38:13 +0000 @wmb 

I thought I mentioned, that a bug in SoftRAID 6/7 prevents expanding. Do you have access to connect this to a Big Sur computer, so you can run 6.0.5? (or an older system). Let me know.

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17402 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17401 Sat, 05 Nov 2022 20:10:39 +0000 Sorry, I'm back.

 Data transfer was fast from Vol 1 to Vol. 2.  I deleted Vol 1 and then renamed Vol 2 to Vol 1.  When I attempt to expand Vol 1 (old 2), I get a message reporting I can only expand to 32 TB which is the same as the current size even though I have 22 Tb uncommitted to any Volume.  I updated to SoftRaid 7.0, but I get the same message.  Any insights?

 

WMB

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17401 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17319 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 19:22:41 +0000 Thanks for all your help!  I have my answers, just gotta start.  I'll re-open if I have difficulty.

 

WMB

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17319 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17318 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 18:01:36 +0000 @wmb You can always rename volumes, yes.

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17318 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17317 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:55:33 +0000 That is exactly what I wanted to do but wanted to be sure there was not a problem I didn't understand that would invalidate my reasoning.  I should be able to expand Volume 1 as needed, correct?   

Also, if I delete Volume 1, could I rename volume 2 to volume 1?  That would eliminate the second data transfer and volume deletion.  Thanks again for all your help.

WMB

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17317 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17316 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:25:54 +0000 @wmb 

Here is a way to describe this. SoftRAID allows any number and type of volumes in any order. No issue there.

However you have a special case, where you want to resize a volume. The API call we can use in MacOS, only allows volumes to expand "outward", never inward. (Note: There is currently a bug in the XCode that is preventing us from resizing volumes at the moment, we are hoping to resolve that soon)

What your only option would be to do this on your SoftRAID Array is:
Create a second volume.
Copy all the data to it.
Delete volume 1
Create a new volume 1 with only the 14/16TB drives.
Copy the data to that.
Delete volume 2
Expand Volume 1 to fill the 14/16TB drives.

 

Painful in this scenario, I understand.

Else, wait until you get your additional large drives, then do this all at once.

]]> SoftRAID Volumes SoftRAID Support https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17316 RE: Modifying Volumes to optimize available space. https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17315 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 17:02:02 +0000 I have 3 copies of all my data on various Drobo not including a Synology DS1821 NAS.  As long as I can access the Drobo B810, there is no problem.  However all my Drobo are out of warrenty and Drobo is in bankruptcy.  No new ones are being made and used ones are at least 2-3 years old, also without warranty. MacOS is updating to Ventura and Drobo will not function in that environment.  My Thunderbay 8 is Raid 5.  For simplicity, I'm using the total volume of memory including Raided memory.  Total memory on the Thunderbay 8 is 92Tb (3x6 +3x14 + 2x16).  Because of the size limitation, the only volume on the raid is 48Tb( 6x8).  According to the  Volume creation in Softraid, I can create a Volume 2 with a max size of 32 Tb, since I do not want to utilize any memory from the 6 TB HDD.  Volume 2 would have enough memory to transfer the data currently on Volume 1.  I would then delete the data on volume 1 and then volume 1 itself.  At that point I should have data only on Volume 2 ( 3x14+2x16), utilizable as 4x14 (56TB) over 5 HDDs

If I understand what your saying, even if I delete Volume 1 on my Thunderbay 8, I cannot remove the 3, 6 TB drives.  I can only replace them with larger drives?  If I delete  Volume 1, none of the 6Tb drives are included in Volume 2.  Can I then remove them and Create a Volume 3 using the memory left over from the deleted volume 1(56Tb)? Then I can add 14 Tb drives as needed to expand volume 3, when needed. 

  As I understand it, I can have 2 or more volumes, each of which exist scattered across the same HDDs.  Are you saying that the Volumes cannot exist on the same drives together?  What is the purpose of being able to delete a volume if you cannot utilize that space for anything else other than a volume of the same size?  Sorry to be so basic, but that is how my mind works.  I break complex ideas down and then try to rebuild them so I have a better understanding of the limits.

Thanks for you help.  WMB

]]> SoftRAID Volumes WMB https://forums.softraid.com/softraid-volumes/modifying-volumes-to-optimize-available-space/#post-17315