Storage Spaces: Optimize-Storagepool

rtho782 · 11 Oct 2016 at 19:56

I have a tiered mirrored storage space currently on Server 2012r2, with, until today:

2x256GB Samsung 830 SSDs

2xWD Red Pro 6TBs
2xSeagate 2TBs

One of the seagates finally died, I've replaced it with another 6TB Red Pro and repaired the array.

Except now I have an unbalanced array, and so still only 8TB of space when I should be able to have 10TB.

Windows 10 and Server 2016 support the Optimize-Storagepool powershell commandlet. This should solve my issue and give me 10TB of space.

However, I don't want to lay out hundreds of pounds for a Server 2016 license. I don't have a spare Windows 10 license, and if it's the same as 7/8/8.1, 10 won't support tiered spaces anyway (you could read from them but not create them in earlier versions).

So, I'm thinking I install 2016RTM to a random drive, optimize the pool, then drop back, but will this update it in some way that makes it unreadable back on 2012r2?

Could I do the same with Windows 10? Can it optimize the pool even though it's tiered?

An obscure question I know, but if anyone could help I'd appreciate it!!

Wizzkidy · 11 Oct 2016 at 20:05

I think you have to upgrade the pool to 2016. I know that much, I cant answer if it will work back on 2012, I wouldn't risk it myself.

rtho782 · 11 Oct 2016 at 21:46

Yeah, that was kind of my fear.

Internets tells me that all the storage pool features are in Win10, but the GUI is missing (so have to use powershell). Tempted to go this route, but if I have to buy a Server 2016 license it's cheaper to just buy another WD Red Pro 6TB and dump the 2TB drive.

AHarvey · 12 Oct 2016 at 14:57

I've zero knowledge of raid etc but couldn't you buy another 6tb to even that up, then split the SSD's up and have them mirrored on the spare 2TB drive?

rtho782 · 12 Oct 2016 at 17:23

The SSDs are a cache tier, data hits them before being written to the HDDs, and reads are cached on them too, they don't count towards the capacity.

But yes, buying another 6TB to balance it, then binning the 2tb (which is the last of like 8 2TB Seagates standing... I don't really trust it anyway) is a good way to go.

I've just realised I can upgrade a legit 7 install to 10 still via the assistive technologies thing, so I might switch to 10 so I can rebalance the array.