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How to Implement Disk Replacement for Capacity Expansion - General Guide

Expanding the storage pool of the Tieniu NAS by replacing hard drives one by one requires careful operation. This guide details the operation steps and associated risks to help you complete the expansion task smoothly.

Please note that the specific operations may vary depending on the model and system version of the Tieniu NAS.

**Important Note: **Before proceeding with storage pool expansion, it is recommended to back up all critical data and consult professionals for detailed guidance. During the entire expansion process, ensure the device remains continuously powered to avoid data loss and system crash caused by unexpected power outages.

Procedure

Step 1: Back up data​

It is recommended to back up important data before capacity expansion to prevent data loss caused by unexpected failures, human operation errors and other issues during the capacity expansion process.

You can choose from the following backup solutions:

1. Back up the data of the IronBox NAS to an external hard drive

  • Backup Destination: External devices (e. g., USB flash drives, other external hard drives)

  • Network Requirements: No internet connection required

2. Sync IronQ NAS data to other storage pools

  • Backup Destination: Other Storage Pool

  • Network Requirements: No internet connection required

Step 2: Understand Storage Pool Types​

Understand the type of storage pool currently in use (such as Basic, RAID 1, RAID 5, etc.) and its working principle to determine the appropriate time to safely replace the hard drive. Refer to What is RAID? for more information.

Step 3: Replace the hard disks one by one​

1. Disable the hard disk:

  • Go to **Settings > Storage Management**, locate the storage pool that needs expansion, and confirm the associated hard drives.

  • Go to **Settings > HDD Information**, select the HDD associated with the storage pool, and click the ****Disable** **button, then confirm and click "Confirm Disable".

2. Hard Drive Replacement:

  • The storage pool will be degraded after the hard drive is deactivated.

  • Please shut down the Tieniu NAS, then replace the old hard drives with new ones one by one. Note: Make sure the model and specifications of the new hard drives are compatible with the Tieniu NAS and meet the requirements of the storage pool.

Step 4: Recreate the storage pool​

Repair Storage Pool:

  • Restart the Tieniu NAS, log in to the settings interface, and enter [Storage Management].

  • Select the storage pool and choose " **Repair Now **" to enter the repair wizard.

  • Select the hard drive for repair according to the prompts, check the unused hard drive with larger capacity, and click " **Repair Now **".

  • After confirmation, the system will start repairing the storage pool and re-establish redundancy once the repair is completed.

Risk Disclosure​

  • **Risk of Data Loss: **Improper operation or hard drive failure may lead to data loss, so it is extremely important to back up your data.

  • **Storage pool failure risk: **A fault may occur during the expansion process, making the storage pool inaccessible.

  • **Hardware Compatibility Risk: **The new hard drive must be compatible with the IronBuff NAS, otherwise the storage pool may not function properly.

  • **Time cost risk: **Scaling up may take a long time to re-establish redundancy or balance data, which may affect the performance of storage devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Which RAID types support drive replacement for capacity expansion?​

**A1： **You can replace the hard drives in the storage pool with larger-capacity ones to expand the storage capacity.

The following RAID types support capacity expansion:

  • RAID 1

  • RAID 5

Q2: What RAID types can be modified in the Tieniu NAS?​

**A2： **If there are empty hard drive bays in the TIENIU NAS, you can install additional hard drives to change the RAID type of the storage pool for capacity expansion.

Supported change types:

  • Basic 到 RAID 1

  • RAID 1 到 RAID 5

Q3: If the RAID type of the storage pool does not support expansion, what other methods are available to expand the storage pool?​

**A3： **If the RAID type of the storage pool does not support expansion, the following methods can be considered:

  • Create new storage pools and storage volumes: If your NAS device has available hard drive bays or you add larger-capacity hard drives, you can create new storage pools and storage volumes to expand storage capacity. For detailed steps, refer to Creating a Storage Pool for more information.

  • Upgrade to a Tiecool NAS device with more drive bays: Migrate your existing system and data to a Tiecool NAS model with more drive bays, then add hard drives to create additional storage pools or storage spaces. **Note: **The maximum single storage space capacity varies across different Tiecool NAS models; please refer to the specifications of your specific model for details.