Looking to buy an EX2. Did some searches but couldn’t find answers to a few questions that I need to make my decision:
(Question 1) I have two 1.5TB WD Elements external drives (older ones with 3.5") I have been using for backup our PC. They are usually unpowered so I think they should have some life in them and save me some money with a diskless EX2.
I know that the EX2 will format the disk when I insert it for RAID1. But can I use the two old drives in this order without losing data already on the drives:
-insert disk1 in EX2, format for RAID1
-copy files via USB from disk2 to EX2
-insert disk2 to complete the RAID1 mirror
(Question 2) If an EX2 1.5TB disk fails a year from now, can I upgrade to two larger 6TB disks, all done inside the EX2? Or do I need to use a PC to move the files to new disk, then insert back into EX2? How does this work? Obviously a drive will fail eventually… I don’t want to be committed to the drive size I pick now forever.
(Question 3) Can the EX2 automatically copy files from a camera SD card to a specific folder (EX2\Pictures\Year\Month) when I insert SD into a reader on the EX2 USB port? It would be nice to get the files right where we want them and skip the PC.
Thanks in advance!!!
I totally did not follow what you are contemplating. Are you thinking of using no internal disks but just having two external USB WD elements drive and thinking of using them in RAID1 mode or are you saying you’ll crack open the cases of those external Elements drives, take the drives out and then install them inside EX2? If you are thinking about either of those scenarios, then no, neither of them will work. Because for first scenario, you need internal drives to be installed before configuring them as RAID1…and in the second scenario’s case, because Elements have 2.5" drives and EX2 requires 3.5" drives.
I tried to re-word my 3 seperate questions to clarify. My PC will retain its 500GB drive. The EX2 will just be used for backup and NAS files server for music/pictures/data. I have older elements that I am pretty sure are 3.5", they are much bigger than the 2.5" ext drive enclosures.
Can anyone give insight on my 3 questions?
Thanks again!!!
Sorry, I should have clarified myself - my answer was in reply to only your question 1.
Ok, if you are sure that the drives inside your 1.5TB Elements drives are 3.5" drives, then you are good. Yes, you should be able to take one drive out and put it inside. But I don’t believe you can build a RAID1 with just 1 drive in there. I myself bought a diskless EX2 and installed only 1 drive and have it running under JBOD mode. What you’ll have to do is put the one drive inside, have it formatted and set up as JBOD and then transfer the data from the other external via USB. After that you can then put the second drive in and rebuild the JBOD to RAID1. BUT and this is the BIG BUT - I think your real stumbling block will be at this stage in converting from JBOD to RAID1. Though I am not fully sure - but I believe when you convert from JBOD to RAID1, it formats both drives, thus wiping all the data on your first drive. So if you can manage to find a place to backup all the data from both drives first, you should be okay. The best info I could find for RAID mode conversion is for the EX4 product but I am pretty sure it applies to EX2 also → http://wdc.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11025/p/247/
And they do make it clear in the linked instructions above that all data is wiped.
Answer 2 - Yes, you can upgrade to a larger drive anytime. In fact, I wouldn’t recommend you use a non-Red drive for your NAS, as you are only increasing the likelihood of early drive failures for drives that were meant to be used in non-NAS usage situations. But that’s up to how much risk you are willing to take.
Answer 3 - No, there is no automatic file copying feature on EX2.
If this info has helped you, please click the star under my username to the left of this post to give me a kudo.
