NAS and RAID question

Hello,

I am creating a RAID5 array on my NAS, with 4 x 2TB drives (the 5th was DOA with a "Current Pending Sector Count" of 97, lucky me). It gives me an option to set "Data Percentage" which defaults to 95%. I am using the NAS purely as a media server, and to hook my printer to (at home). Is there any reason not to select "100%"?

http://oi53.tinypic.com/2ihmq0n.jpg

I assume that the 5th hard drive is dead, given the 97 errors? Thecus, in the NAS manual, say that a drive should be replaced if the number exceeds 32, and this one is brand new. All the others have 0.

Thanks!

Kat

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kata

Hello,

I am creating a RAID5 array on my NAS, with 4 x 2TB drives (the 5th was DOA with a "Current Pending Sector Count" of 97, lucky me). It gives me an option to set "Data Percentage" which defaults to 95%. I am using the NAS purely as a media server, and to hook my printer to (at home). Is there any reason not to select "100%"?

http://oi53.tinypic.com/2ihmq0n.jpg

I assume that the 5th hard drive is dead, given the 97 errors? Thecus, in the NAS manual, say that a drive should be replaced if the number exceeds 32, and this one is brand new. All the others have 0.

Thanks!

Kat

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It's a thecus NAS sin't it ;)

Setting the data percentage lower is what you need to do is you want to create an iSCSI LUN. Don't worry if you don't know what one is - you'll not use it in a home environment.

For home usage, if you don't want to use iSCSI (or know how) use 100% space.

The reason it defaults to 95% is that it's generally good practive to leave some room to breath. Then when you have that OMG I've run out of space moment you can just expand the array into that 5% you left unused, then get online to Scan and buy more / larger hard drives.

As one of the previous posters said you won't use iSCSI at home, seriously just don't bother. I only use iSCSI for VMWare ESXi at work. Also I've found xfs give you better performance than ext3. I have a total of 8 different Thecus SANs, on the whole they are pretty good.

Have fun.

Rich.