ASK NC

Hi,
I have a QNAP TS-431P3-2G NAS with two 6TB drives set as a RAID 1. I am new to NAS systems and have been watching you first set up videos - Brilliant information by the way. I have only gone as far as setting a storage volume as I want to add an extra two drives. My question is can I add two larger drives (say 10 - 12 TB) and will I be able to set the four up as a RAID 1 (I like the idea of mirrored drives) such that each 6TB is mirrored and each 10TB the same. Or would it be a better idea to simply add two 6TB.
Thanks in advance.

Thank you for your kind words, and I'm glad our setup videos have been helpful! To address your question, with the QNAP TS-431P3-2G NAS, mixing drives of different capacities within the same RAID 1 setup is not supported. However, you have a couple of options:

Create a Second RAID 1: You can set up a separate RAID 1 array with the two larger drives (10-12 TB each) if you're keen on having mirrored drives at those capacities.

Use Drives of the Same Capacity: Alternatively, if you prefer a more straightforward approach, you can opt for two additional 6TB drives to maintain consistency across all drives in the NAS.

Both options have their merits. If you anticipate needing the extra capacity for storage, especially as your needs might grow in the future, the second option could be a good choice. However, if you're looking for higher redundancy with larger mirrored drives, the first option might be more suitable.

Please consider your storage requirements and how you plan to use the NAS, both now and in the future, to make the best decision for your needs.