NVMe Disk Configured in RAID

[ydznas]

Hello,

When setting up my NAS server, I directly installed my 6TB drives as well as my NVMe flash drive. During the RAID creation, TOS automatically included my flash drive in the storage pool.

Is it possible to remove my flash drive without losing any data? I need to use it as SSD Cache.

TOS Version: 5.1.131
NAS: F2-424

Thanks in advance.

[Gremlin]

Most questions relate to 'how to install Tos ONLY on the nvme

I did find this:
viewtopic.php?p=32800&hilit=remove+nvme ... aid#p32800

but I don't think it helps that much.

[TMzethar]

It looks like the auto mode combines your SSD and HDD into one TRAID.
If you also selected a 6TB HDD when you installed TOS, then your 6TB HDD also contains a full set of boot and system partitions. At this point, you might consider using an NVMe SSD for caching.

Since NVMe SSDs are not hot-swappable, you cannot simply detach an NVMe SSD from the TRAID by replacing the disk.

You can back up your data to another device, delete the volume and storage pool, and then rebuild the storage pool and volume (without using NVMe SSDs).
Alternatively, you can shut down the TNAS, remove the NVMe, and access the PC system via an M.2 to USB adapter or the M.2 slot on the PC/MAC motherboard to delete the partitions on the SSD. Finally put it back to TNAS for use.
Since TRAID is missing the disk, you need to repair TRAID with a new disk.

[ydznas]

Thank you for your responses. I must admit that I am completely new to the NAS ecosystem.

I initially planned to use my NVMe as an SSD cache, as it seemed interesting to boost the NAS performance.

I had not considered installing TOS on it. Is it really more efficient than using the NVMe as a cache?

[ydznas]

So, I installed TOS on the NVMe and I really feel the difference when navigating the web apps. I will see the other effects in the coming days.

To remove my previous installation, in case it might be useful to others:

• Backup the data

• Delete the volume (the NAS crashes at this point)

• Reboot

• Delete the storage pool

• Factory reset

• Power off

• Remove the two SATA drives, keep the NVMe

• Install in single disk mode

• Install done

• Adding the two new drives

• Creating an additional storage pool (TRAID)

I am keeping the second NVMe slot free to use as SSD cache when I have the budget.

[AJOB]

Very Useful information thank you.
I am curious, what size / make of NVME did you use ?