…and presumably would start with a Z1 config. How difficult would it be to add 4 additional drives to the storage pool, at a Z2 configuration? Thanks! -Rodney

Thanks for the response. So, yes the end game is 8 drives, raidz2. Based on your info, I should start with 4 drives, raidz2, then add drives as I can afford to add them, with the goal being 8 drives total? The issue is I cannot afford to add all 8 drives at once – don’t have the initial budget. But …

Starting with 4 drives Raid-Z2 is okay. You can add additional drives using Raid-Z expansion but the space reporting in the GUI will be off. The CLI should be closer to the truth. The more drives you start with, the better. Plenty of posts with RAID-Zx-expansion tag, if you want to view others t…

[image] rodneysing: And the final 8 drive raidz2 config, building out from 4, will be just as if I started with 8 to begin with? Thanks No. There are some caveats. data already stored will have the same storage efficiency as when originally stored, until rewritten RaidZ Expansion spac…

For the love of the world, while we still have your attention and before you purchase anything: Please make sure that the drives you plan to purchase are not SMR. Especially if you plan to manage a pool of an 8-wide vdev. You can post the model numbers in here if you are unsure.

Thanks for the help… <a href="https://www.amazon.com/HGST-Ultrastar-HC570-0F48052-Drive/dp/B0BWSYJZ29/ref=sr_1_3?crid=22FW5AJSYV6E3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DT0Z4us01fAK1bFkK2qfU7YxqB59agNC6mEcqkEyXGcmMqi-QzSMjXY7dhowq9zExV1bRGOkK4vVACp9l17_Jf5aCYOKCMCQnxV5BKiwdfBmhBAmPcty2uAcDs2W3aZ6RZdn0m--yO6LALprj01lsUw7j1kK3_PC0tP0638K8Wl3LdMfvWBcigyGZfAZjBvWgKAidZNduIQNoXStCbuwpH9cSFX781ZuOfX6cju6bLs.fDl7WfrMRorhUHLP6R5ffjvNbsh6nZ0u3ZCn4N1GvNs&dib_tag=se&keywords=western+digital+SAS+ultrastar+dc+hc570+-+22tb&qid=1740459339&sprefix=western+digital+sas+ultrastar+dc+hc570+-+22tb%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-3" rel="noopener nofollow ugc">HGST Ultrastar DC HC570 0F48052 22 TB Hard Drive - 3.5 Internal - SAS [12Gb/s SAS] [image] -Rodney

The Amazon specs don’t specify SMR, but further digging reveals the drive is CMR, Conventional Magnetic Recording. Thoughts if this is a capable TrueNAS drive for running an 8-wide vdev, raidz2? Thanks! -Rodney

No problems running those 8 wide. Only issue is buying through a good supplier. I don’t know if Amazon counts. The inventory may get mixed between online stores.

Thanks! Wondering if there is benefit to creating two vdevs, 4-wide, at raidz1, VS 1 vdev, 8-wide, at raidz2. Thanks again! -Rodney

Building a new True NAS sys, starting with 4 drives, but want to build out to 8

TrueNAS General

SmallBarky February 25, 2025, 5:29am 10

I think you are fine with that drive but only buy from know, good suppliers. Check the drives as soon as you get them to see if they are ‘used and abused’. Good suppliers will take care of problems and returns.

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Building a new True NAS sys, starting with 4 drives, but want to build out to 8

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