How do I change a failed ForteRAID drive module?

Below is an excerpt from the ForteRAID manual available in the support section of the Glyph web site.

Changing a Failed Hard Drive Module

If one of the hard drives fails, the two “Check GM” LEDs will display flashing or solid yellow, and Glyph Manager will alert you. Open Glyph Manager software to determine which drive has failed and what the error condition is. If a drive has failed and the RAID mode is set to RAID 1, 3, 5, or 10, the data can still be accessed, but it is strongly suggested that you replace the faulty drive mechanism immediately to assure continued backup and data safety. 

It is very unlikely that multiple hard drives fail simultaneously, which is the reasoning behind using the redundant RAID modes.  If this did happen, or if a drive fails when the RAID mode is set to RAID 0 or Spanning, the data will be lost and the system cannot be accessed again until the drive(s) are replaced and the array rebuilds anew.

NOTE: Glyph Tech Support is available to help you in the event of drive failure. If you need assistance with the procedure below, please call our tech support at 1-800-335-0345.

NOTE: Spare drive modules are available from Glyph. In the event of a failed drive, you must use a replacement drive with capacity equal to, or higher than, the existing drives in the array. When building a new RAID array, identical capacity drives are also recommended. When using drives with differing capacities, the lowest capacity drive will determine the total capacity of the array. For example, a four-drive RAID 0 array with three 1TB drives and one 500GB drive will yield a 2TB array. 500GB on each drive would be used for the array, and the rest is wasted space.

To replace a failed drive, follow the steps below:

1. Power off and unplug the power from the ForteRAID. Position the enclosure on the edge of a desk or table, with the front facing towards you. You will notice that there is a switch on the bottom of the enclosure.  Position the enclosure so it hangs slightly off the edge of the table so you can access the switch.

2. Move the switch to the left, and with your other hand, push the inner chassis from the back until the front panel slides out of the housing.

3. Pull the top of the front panel forward so that it un-clips from the inner chassis at the top.

4. Lift up gently to remove the front panel from the bottom pivot point. If you have to pull hard, something is wrong. The lower lip of the front panel is probably catching the inner chassis.

5. To remove a drive module, turn the thumbscrew counter-clockwise and then pull it out.

6. Slide the replacement drive module into the enclosure, and fasten the locking screw in place to complete the drive installation. The drive modules can be installed at any position in the enclosure, there is no specific order required. 

7. Plug in and power on the ForteRAID, and connect to your computer.

NOTE: Do not force the drives into place. If the drive carriers don’t slide in properly, make sure the drives are properly installed into the trays (with the SATA connector facing out), and make sure they are lined up in the slots correctly.

After the replacement drive has been inserted:

If a new drive module has been inserted when using RAID 1, 3, 5, or 10, the RAID array will be rebuilt automatically. If you do not see a rebuild reported in Glyph Manager, un-mount the volume and power-cycle the ForteRAID. After power-cycle, the rebuild should begin. During the rebuild process, Glyph Manager will estimate the remaining rebuild time. Rebuilding the RAID array may take several hours, depending on drive capacity. You will be able to use the array during the rebuild process, but performance will be degraded.

For RAID 0 and Spanning, drive failure will result in the loss of the array. You will need to create a new partition on the volume (See Formatting instructions later in this manual). 

NOTE: Do not attempt to change the RAID mode while the array is rebuilding.

NOTE: We recommend not turning the power off during the rebuild process, but if it is interrupted it will continue rebuilding when the power is restored.

NOTE: It is not possible to add more drives to an existing RAID array (RAID expansion) or change the RAID configuration without reformatting (RAID migration). To add additional drives at a later point, turn off the power, install the drive(s), turn the power back on and then erase the old partition and format the drives again. You will need to back up any important data before doing this!

NOTE: Glyph only supports ForteRAID spare drive modules in the ForteRAID. Some ForteRAID models sold with lower-capacity drives (total ForteRAID capacity less than 2TB) do not support the addition of larger drives without a firmware update from Glyph. If you would like to increase the capacity of your ForteRAID, make sure to purchase Glyph ForteRAID spare drive modules, and please contact Glyph tech support for details.