Christopher (Drashna)

You can absolute add a disk that already has data on it. However it does count against the available space for the Pool on that disk. You can also move that contents into the pool. The recommended way is "drag and drop" to the pool drive. But if you have a large amount of data, there is a "quick and dirty" method for "seeding" the pool basically. If you're finding more and more bad sectors like this (and data lifeguard is confirming that), then that's not good. If this is a brand new disk (sounds like it) and it's finding a lot of bad sectors, then there may be a physical issue with the disk. One solution here... which will take hours, or days, is to run a full format (not a quick format). This wipes the entire disk and should identify any additional issues with the disk and correct them. First, yes, the trial version is fully featured. There no features disabled or limited. As for the issue here, if you have StableBit Scanner installed as well as DrivePool, if a disk is marked as damaged (as in bad/unreadable sectors) it will prevent DrivePool from using the drive to prevent any data loss. So what you're seeing is expected. And as I said, if the number of bad sectors is steadily increasing, take the drive back to where you purchased it (or return it). If they won't let you (depending on the sales laws in your area), then RMA it.

This really depends on how you're mirroring the drives, and if you have other disks available. If you're using dynamic disks (from disk management), then, you'd need to remote at least one from the array and re-partition it. We don't currently support dynamic disks, I believe. So you'd need to convert it to a basic, which means you have to re-partition the disk. When this is happening, if the other disk fails, then yes, you run the risk of losing data. However, data recovery tools may help. However, if you have a spare/third disk, you could add that to a pool, copy the contents to the pool and then break the mirror. HOwever, if this is a "hardware" RAID (done on a controller card or your motherboard), then it depends on how the controller handles it. And in this case, the safest bet would be that spare/third drive option.

Haswell, is the architecture codename. They're the newest CPUs from Intel. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116950 They're supposed to be a lot more power efficient than the previous serious, without sacrificing CPU power. And note that it has built in Intel HD graphics? That means you don't need to add a video card either. It's on-die (on the CPU). great for an "embedded" system like a router! And yeah, the web filter can eat up a lot of resources. Especially if you're enabling HTTPS scanning as well. Though, I think the 9.2 beta fixes part of that. As for the Antivirus, I believe so. but I'd have to test that out. But I'm pretty sure it would work "remotely" as well. If not... Sophos has a bunch of VPN options

NO, there isn't a force rebalance option on 2.X. It's on the "to-do" list, though, I believe.

I'm assuming this is a brand new, uninitialized or never been formatted disk? If so, then probably not. I'd format it first, and then see if Scanner still has issues with it.

Well, with that RAM upgrade (to 4GBs), I'm no longer seeing the drop out I was before. Occassional lag, but that's very minor and only once in a while. I think if I had to redo the router, I'd go with a Haswell Pentium or low end Core i3. But otherwise, it's been running strong for a week, with no real issues. And I'm very happy about that. Very. Also, just FYI, you get 10+2 licenses of Sophos AV for your client computers, and can manage them on the router!

Okay. I thought that may be what you were getting at, but I wasn't sure. I've flagged this for Alex, and maybe we'll get the stand alone EXE on the server as well.

Yeah, if you're using a lot of features.... then a core i3 with 4-8GBs of RAM would be a much better idea. In fact, just upgraded mine from 2GB to 4GB and it's definitely running better. As for cost... check newegg's shell shocker deals. Sometimes, they have some nice systems for cheap. Spending ~$200 on a computer to use as a router/UTM, well, considering a lot of higher end consumer routers will cost you that much .... and you'll get a lot more out of it (well, except for Wi-Fi, maybe)... I've added a couple of additional posts, but I'm just getting started on the web filtering stuff. There is a LOT there, and I don't want to skimp on details.

Use build 165 (copy the URL, edit the 169 to 165, and it should download that version, which should work)

There isn't really a good reason to compile a 64 bit version of StableBit Scanner. We don't rely on any specific code that requires it to match the architecture of the OS. So it works on 64bit and 32bit systems. As for the stand alone part, if you use the beta version, you can remotely access Scanner, the same way that you can access DrivePool remotely. Eliminating the need for a stand alone app. But the reason we have a seperate installer for the "Windows Server Solutions" products (WHS2011,SBS2011,Server 2012(R2) Essentials), is that the installers are meant to be run on the client side and are pushed to the server, so you don't need to remote into the system. Which is the entire design principle for the system. As for "syncing" the UI, that's a question that only Alex can answer. But I'll see about getting the title fixed. It does look out of place. (#1158)

Yes and no. It's got more features, and is more actively developed. But v1.X does feature better dashboard support. The difference here being that v1 is ONLY for WHS2011/SBS2011/WSS2008R2E and v2 is for any version of windows.

Awesome. Thanks. I'm linking it to the bug for this issue. Details about this and other bugs can be found here: http://wiki.covecube.com/Development_Status This specific issue is: https://stablebit.com/Admin/IssueAnalysisPublic?Id=1151

.... I swear I created an IAR for the issue but I can't seem to find it. Even searching manually. Worst case, Alex will get two IARs for this issue. (sorry Alex, but not really). It's IAR #1157, for reference.

Please do this: http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_System_Crashes And to make sure, the BSOD is reporting the issue is with CoveFS.sys? Also, what version of DrivePool are you using specifically (it says in the dashboard, and you *should* be on 2.0.0.420).

Yes. And you don't need to copy anything. The information about the pool is stored on the pool. So you just reinstall, and you're done. However, you will lose balancing settings and such. But the pool and duplication information is maintained. The only thing is that I would recommend running the WSS Troubleshooter to recreate the shared folders for you. http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_Utilities

Though, if you could, enable tracing and duplicate the issue: http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_Log_Collection While it should be easily reproducible, extra logs won't hurt.

The 2.0.0.420 release of DrivePool should create a tab in the dashboard on WHS2011. However, it does not feature the full integration that 1.X has (no tabs in server folders and hard drives). It only has the main tab. This is why we recommend the 1.X version for WHS2011.

Could you enable tracing and duplicate the issue: http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_2.x_Log_Collection After doing that, could you update to the beta build? There was an issue with the driver and the WHS code (not liking virtual disks) http://dl.covecube.com/DrivePoolWindows/beta/download (newest at bottom)

I notice that you have Archive Optimizer installed. Is the disk in question a "feeder" disk? Also, is the pool set up to balance immediately, or? And could you enable file system tracing? (Gear Icon, troubleshooting, enable file system logging). Then do step #5 and up from here: http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_2.x_Log_Collection (as well as use the Box.com upload widget. Make sure you link this thread in the comment box

Just FYI here: The Performance section ONLY reads activity that comes through the driver. Meaning that is "done" to the pool from an outside source. We do not measure/monitor the performance that occurs due to the background service (duplication and balancing). This is why I suspect that hte Client Backup engine is renaming these files. That is the only way they would show up in the performance section for the Pool. As for the logic for what happens to the disks, I can only guess based on my experience. Alex can answer that question, but I can't. (however, from my experience, rename operations remain on the same disk, while copy may not, and moves tend to, depending)

Removing the configuration files won't help The information about the Pool is actually stored ON the pooled drives itself. That means you can move the disks to another system, and it will see the pool as well. However, if you do wish to start completely from scratch: Uninstall DrivePool Use that link above to reset the settings Enable "Show Hidden Files" (you'll see why in a sec) Go to each disk in the pool, where you'll find a hidden "PoolPart.xxxx" folder From here, move the contents of this folder into the "root" of the disk (eg, d:\, e:\, f:\, g:\, etc) Once the PoolPart folder is empty (double and TRIPLE CHECK), delete the folder Repeat 4-5 for each disk that was in the pool. Reinstall DrivePool Add the disks to the pool that you want back in it "reverse" 4-5 for the disks you want in the pool (dump the contents into the NEW poolPart folder) Reset drivePool's settings again, or "remeasure"

Unfortunately, there isn't a good way to handle this. Which is why we've left it as reporting the total free space available instead of altering it. If everything in the pool was x2 duplicated, then it could make sense. But what if you have a folder that was only x1 duplicated... or x3+ duplicated. Then it starts getting even more confusing and the coding just gets complicated.

Until you update, and the files get overwritten. Also, I would recommend against this. Every beta build after 450 includes this option by default. So, no need to mess with dlls like that.

And no other controllers yet, right? But for this sort of issue, about the only thing that is really helpful is that crash dump. And the hardware lists what chipsets it is using, which is helpful. Also, is anything plugged into that "additional" 4 port SATA controller? The Marvell chipset one?

Actually, I believe the issue may be how the Client Backup service works, and the HyperV Pass-through driver. But to double check, can you move the database to a different disk and see if the issue persists? If it doesn't, could you try duplicating the issue with Tracing enabled? http://wiki.covecube.com/StableBit_DrivePool_2.x_Log_Collection