Frequently Asked Question

Introduction

This guide explains the process and considerations for swapping hard drive bays in a Synology NAS system. Synology supports Disk Roaming, which allows for the rearrangement of hard drives in different bays under specific RAID configurations.

Applicable RAID Configurations

• Disk Roaming is feasible with the following RAID types:
  • RAID 1, 5, 6, 10
  • Synology Hybrid RAID (SHR) with either single or dual redundancy

Procedure for Swapping Hard Drive Bays

1. Preparation
   • Ensure your Synology NAS is running one of the applicable RAID configurations mentioned above.
2. Shutdown NAS
   • Before proceeding with swapping the hard drive bays, shut down the NAS completely. This is crucial to prevent any data loss or system errors.
3. Swapping Hard Drives
   • For example, if you have 4 HDDs in an 8-bay NAS (from 1st to 4th bay), you can swap them to bays 5th to 8th.
   • The Synology DSM can recognize and adjust even if the drives are scrambled (e.g., 1st HDD in the 4th bay, 4th HDD in the 6th bay, etc.)
4. Restart NAS
   • Power on the NAS after the hard drives have been swapped.
   • The Synology DSM will automatically detect the new arrangement and repair any discrepancies in the drive placement.

Important Considerations

• Power Status: Performing this operation while the NAS is powered on can lead to serious issues. If the hard drives are swapped while the NAS is running, the system may enter a degraded mode, potentially leading to data integrity problems.
• Data Backup: It's always advisable to back up critical data before undertaking hardware modifications, even with RAID configurations that provide redundancy.

Conclusion

Synology's Disk Roaming feature offers flexibility in managing hard drive placements within the NAS. However, it's imperative to perform these operations only when the NAS is completely powered down to avoid data loss or system errors. Following these guidelines will ensure a smooth transition when rearranging the hard drives in your Synology NAS system.