Drive Balancing tool for WHS

[S_M_E]

I found the tool crashed if I even had my Sage client window open. I wouldn't run it while the server was recording either.

[Beefcake550]

Thanks for the info S_M_E - I'll add it to the readme.

-Brian

[Beefcake550]

Update available in First Post. Check revision history for updates.

[Beefcake550]

Ditto above post....I'm assuming those that have downloaded it and used it are happy? I've added plenty of features for power users as a result of feedback.

The only piece of feedback I haven't yet implemented is an "auto" mode. I'm trying to figure out just how to do this - the right way...

[S_M_E]

I'm already balanced, no need to run it again yet...

[toony]

I started running the balancing tool, I did not think it was going to take very long but it has been going for about 2 hours and is at about 34%

How bad is it to stop it and start again tonight?

[S_M_E]

You'd have to clean up the "fake" directories manually but I doubt it would break anything.

[wayner]

I don't know if I need a balancer but my system drive became fairly full before I added other drives. Is it possible to use this tool to clean files off of the system drive - it only has 4K allocation units whereas I expanded all others.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by wayner

I don't know if I need a balancer but my system drive became fairly full before I added other drives. Is it possible to use this tool to clean files off of the system drive - it only has 4K allocation units whereas I expanded all others.

Yes, it'll clear the D partition and, if you didn't convert it, I'd recommend it.

[Peter_h]

I ran this on sunday. We were painting so it was the perfect time to do some maintenance to the server. At 4 TB's of space, it took about 6 hours to complete.

Definately give it some time or set it to run before you go to bed.

[toony]

Cheers, I stopped it all is fine, I'll rerun it tonight.

[davefred99]

Originally Posted by S_M_E

Yes, it'll clear the D partition and, if you didn't convert it, I'd recommend it.

What setting do you use to clear the D partition and balance the remaining drives.
I.E. inlclude D partician or exclude ?

I just set up a fresh Trial install and will eventually need to do a new full OEM install and want to use this tool prior to the migration so I can install a new system hard drive without loosing any important data that might some how be on the system d partition space.
My plan is to run this disk space balancer first,then shut down the server. Mirror the original system drive to a larger/faster one and then reinistall it into the server. Once I have done that I will boot the server from the new WHS install disk and hopefully be able to use the drop down menu and do a reinstall. This would preserve all my data with the exception of backups and user installed addins and settings.

Is there any flaw in my assumptions ?

Dave F.

[S_M_E]

Originally Posted by davefred99

What setting do you use to clear the D partition and balance the remaining drives.
I.E. inlclude D partician or exclude ?

Do you want to include D: in the balancing effort (y/n)? n
Filling Up LandingZone so it doesn't get used
Do you want to clear out the LandingZone (y/n)? y

The method you then use to balance is up to you.

Mirror the original system drive to a larger/faster one and then reinistall it into the server.

That may or may not work but if you're going to stretch your C partition that would be the time to do it. If you just replace the old drive with the newer drive AND you want to stretch the C partition, you have to interrupt the install as outlined in my "resize the system drive" tutorial. If you're leaving C as 20G then the server reinstall should be all you need.

Once I have done that I will boot the server from the new WHS install disk and hopefully be able to use the drop down menu and do a reinstall. This would preserve all my data with the exception of backups and user installed addins and settings.

A "server reinstall" will format the system drive but not the drives in the pool. If server reinstall is not an option, STOP. Do *not* perform a "new install" without disconnecting the drives in the pool first or they will be formatted.

[Beefcake550]

Thanks for replying S_M_E.....I had a busy day at work today and didn't get online much.

-Brian

[S_M_E]

WHS+Sage are two of my favorites, I try to help when I can...

[toony]

Thanks for the app Beefcake, I ran it again last night, it picked up from where I left off and all is good now.

You may want to add in the txt file to right click and hit refresh on the pool drives when it is completed, cause WHS did not refresh the storage meters and it looked like had lost about 1.5tb, I had a small heart attack, then refreshed and it showed that all my space was still there

[Beefcake550]

toony....hehhe I hear ya. You can also change the refresh rate of disk management to be more like 10 seconds or so (I think it's the temp update setting that will help). THen, it will only take 10 seconds at worst to be updated.

Duely noted.....I will make the adjustment upon the next release which is due soon. I am workign to update the restarting of the disk extender service. In stead of potentially wasting up to 15 minutes each time, it'll be more like only 15 seconds of waste. Not a bad improvement if it works out, eh?

-Brian

[toony]

Yeah that would be a nice update!

I doubt this has anything to do with your app but I noticed that after the balancing the Shared Folders tab the video share is showing a failing health. So I checked the Network Health and one of the conflicts is that it cannot find the drive specified, then names a video I recorded off of TV in the \\server\video\sagetv share

Any idea what this is or how to solve it?

[S_M_E]

Did you try rebooting?

[toony]

Originally Posted by S_M_E

Did you try rebooting?

LOL no why would I do something so obvious as that? lol

I'll get back to you.