Advantages/Disadvantages of Synology Hybrid Raid?

[orimame]

Hi
I have an old NAS from QNAP and consider upgrading to Synology DS-411, configured with SHR.

Right now, I have 2 x 750 GB drives and would like for them to be the first 2 drives in my new NAS and afterwards add 2x2TB drives and my question goes:

Can SHR utilize all the space in the 2x2 TB based on the original 2x750GB? Or do I have to start out with either 500 GB/1TB?

I ask because in the above example from nekno, it shows calculation from a 500GB drives perspective, and you can’t make a clean division of 2000 with 750. Will the utilized space on the 2TB disk in that case be 2x750GB and then some leftovers, you can’t use?

THX in advance

[Piwi]

Yes, you can.

SHR will create a single volume with 4x750Go in RAID5 and 2x1.25To in RAID1.
Total size of your SHR volume will be 3x750Go + 1x1.25To = 3,5To.

[idheath]

I have a DS411+ with 4 x 2TB and have gone for 2 x RAID1 (no SHR) which gives me a total of 4TB storage (across 2 separate volumes).

I know this isn't the most efficient use of disk capacity but if you're paranoid about data-loss (like me) then I reckon RAID1 is the way to go for 1 simple reason....

I had a total failure of an older DiskStation and since I had a RAID1 array it was a simple ('ish) matter of taking one of the 2 hard disks out and putting it in a PC to recover the data (by using a utility to be able to read the ext3 disk format in a PC).

In my view any such recovery in a RAID5/6 configuration would have been far more complex.

I assume the use of SHR would also complicate any such recovery process?

[the voyeur]

Full n00b here.
Really pleased thus far with ds212J and the build quality and all.

I have installed 2 HDDs into the box-one is 1tb and the other a 2tb. Currently the box is formatting these into an SHR volume.
As far as I can tell, its going to afford me 912GB of 'protected' space-meaning that it will act as RAID1-duplicating data in each of the drives.
As I understand it-I gave up that second TB because only one drive is 2tb large.

If all that is right-then here's my question:

If I later decide to replace the 1tb drive with a 2tb to match the existing 2tb-will the disk station just restore the data to the new drive and then open up that second tb of drive space? I don't want to get into a situation where I have to find another backup solution while a new drive is installed?
TIA for any thoughts

[HarryPotter]

If I later decide to replace the 1tb drive with a 2tb to match the existing 2tb-will the disk station just restore the data to the new drive and then open up that second tb of drive space?

Yes it will.

[the voyeur]

Thanks Harry-I browsed for about an hour last night looking for the answer and saw a lot of activity from you helping other users like myself. Thanks for being available and interested in guiding the less experienced.

[Doodoo]

Hi, as I read in this forum, in only two slots storage synology NAS, SHR = RAID1
But nobody write about BIG benefit - speed of creation and repair SHR volume!

I will have 2x1TB disk in 212j, questions are:
1. its good idea use SHR (no RAID1) for benefit - fast create (repair) volume? (it is this only this one benefit raid1 vs shr in two slot nas?)
2. its SHR the same safe for data like raid1? Can i read disk with SHR volume in another PC like with raid1?

Thanks for help!

[Doodoo]

No, SHR doesnt make sense on a 2bay device, it needs at least 3 HD to free more space.

No sense? And this?
Fast SHR Volume Creation - For example, a 10 TB volume usually requires approximately 9 and a half hour to complete the entire process, now it only takes around 30 minutes.

[HarryPotter]

I wonder how you want to create a 10 TB volume on a 2bay NAS.....

[Doodoo]

I wonder how you want to create a 10 TB volume on a 2bay NAS.....

Was only example from synology webpage...
You think 2TB volume from two disks (raid1) will be no faster (create/repair volume) with SHR?

[HarryPotter]

May be it will be created faster, but IMO this doesnt count. Thats a one time operation.

What is important is functionality and speed afterwards, and there I cant see an advantage nor a disadvantage. It will probably be easier to get data back from a RAID1 on another computer as this is a known standard.

[Doodoo]

May be it will be created faster, but IMO this doesnt count. Thats a one time operation.

What is important is functionality and speed afterwards, and there I cant see an advantage nor a disadvantage. It will probably be easier to get data back from a RAID1 on another computer as this is a known standard.

This information is usefull for me, thanks!
I will go to RAID1, i wait my DS212j this week...

[Isaiah4110]

One question I haven't seen come up that could be relevant to this discussion: SHR is obviously a software RAID. If you manually choose your RAID type with a Synology DS, then is the resulting RAID (whether 0, 1, 5, etc.) also a software level RAID or does the DS create it as a hardware RAID?

I get the feeling all Synology DS RAID volumes are software based and there is no way to create a hardware RAID. Would this assumption be correct?

[HarryPotter]

This are all software RAIDs

[steagle]

For the record it took me 3+ days to expand my SHR volume from 1x 3TB drive (no redundancy) to a total of 4x 3TB drives (SHR + 1 disk redundancy). It definitely ain't quick, and I doubt it's any faster than starting off with RAID5 on all 4 disks.

As for data recovery should your NAS fail and your data was on a SHR volume - I too would be interested to hear if this is possible. I have confidence this will not be an issue as Synology hardware is pretty rock solid and will likely outlast any of the drives I throw in it, but would still be nice to know the logistics of an "out-of-NAS" recovery.