Insert disks into the enclosure before following the directions below. For instructions, see Remove/Insert a Hard Disk or Connect to the Network: Diskless LaCie 5big NAS Pro.

1. Select the new disk(s) on the top of the left-hand column.
   
   
2. Choose the Add storage button to launch the New storage volume wizard.
   
   
3. Select Network volume, then choose Next.
   
   
4. The Select disks window lists all the disks in the enclosure. Grey disks are being used by one or more existing volumes and cannot be selected. White disks are available for the new volume. Select the box under each disk that you want to use for the new volume then choose Next. All data on the disks will be deleted to create the RAID configuration.
   
   
   
5. Select Quick setup to create a SimplyRAID volume to optimize your storage for data and protection. With two or more disks, SimplyRAID will create a RAID volume using single-disk security. If you choose Custom, refer to the instructions below. Choose Next to continue.
   
   
6. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the SimplyRAID volume.
   
7. The amount of time to synchronize the volume depends upon the total capacity of your disks. However, you can start using the volume immediately. See Shares for instructions on how to create new shares on the volume to store and share data.
   

Your options to select the level of RAID are predicated upon the number of disks in your array. For example, a three-disk configuration allows you to select from LaCie SimplyRAID, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1, or RAID 5. A four- or five-disk configuration offers LaCie SimplyRAID, JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 5, or RAID 6.

Adding a spare: If you intend to create a volume with a spare drive, you must leave at least one hard drive free. For example, a four-disk RAID 6 array with spare would require that you create the RAID 6 with the first four disks (from left to right) before moving to the next section to add the fifth hard disk as the spare.

Install disks into the enclosure before following the directions below. For instructions, see Connect to the Network: Diskless LaCie 5big NAS Pro.

1. Select the new disks at the top of the left-hand column.
   
   
2. Choose the Add storage button to launch the New storage volume wizard.
   
   
3. Select Network volume, then choose Next.
   
   
4. The Select disks window lists all the disks in the enclosure. Grey disks are being used by one or more existing volumes and cannot be selected. White disks are available for the new volume. Select the box under each disk that you want to use for the new volume then choose Next. All data on the disks will be deleted to create the RAID configuration.
   
   
   
5. Select Custom then choose Next.
   
   
6. The RAID selection window helps you to select the optimal configuration for your environment:
   • Select a RAID mode's radio button to view an explanation of its strengths and weaknesses.
     

     

     

     
     SimplyRAID Double security

     
     
     

     

     

     
     RAID 0

     
     
     

     

     

     
     RAID 5

     
     
     

     

     

     
     RAID 6

     
     
     

   • Use the cursor to choose the grey i tooltip to see a graphic summary of the strengths and weaknesses of each level of RAID.
     
     
7. Select the level of RAID that you want then choose Next. Note, if you are reconfiguring an existing RAID, the new mode will erase files on the shares but your Dashboard configuration will not be affected.
8. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the volume.
   

Before adding a spare hard drive, you must follow the instructions above (Custom) to create the RAID volume. When creating the volume, leave a minimum of one hard drive free for the spare. For example, a four-disk RAID 6 volume with spare would require that you create the RAID 6 with the first four disks (from left to right) before reviewing this section to add the fifth hard disk as the spare. You can follow the directions below with RAID 1, RAID 5, or RAID 6 volumes.

1. Insert the spare hard drive(s) into the LaCie 5big NAS Pro (see Remove/Insert a Hard Disk for instructions). The Dashboard > Storage should display at least one New hard drive.
   
   
   
2. Choose Manage.
3. Select Add drive and choose Next.
   
   
   
4. Check the box under the New hard drive(s) and choose Next.
   
   
   
5. Select Custom and choose Next.
   
   
   
6. Select Add spare drives and choose Next.
   
   
   
7. Review the summary and choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the volume.
   
   
   
8. The Spare is now available.
   

NAS OS allows you to create a volume with only one disk, then expand as you add disks to the enclosure. A volume with a single disk can be configured for SimplyRAID, JBOD, or RAID 1. Each level of RAID has its own advantages, as described in 5big NAS Pro: About RAID Modes.

If you have not inserted the hard drive into the LaCie 5big NAS Pro, please see Remove/Insert a Hard Disk for basic instructions. For a full explanation of adding disks to the enclosure, see Connect to the Network: Diskless LaCie 5big NAS Pro. Once the disk has been installed, the Dashboard > Storage page should display at least one new hard drive.

SimplyRAID

1. Select One new disk at the top of the left-hand column, then choose Add storage.
   
   
2. Select Network volume then choose Next.
   
   
3. Select the check box under the new disk then choose Next.
   
   
4. Select Quick setup then choose Next.
   
   
5. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the SimplyRAID volume.
   
   

Though it is a SimplyRAID volume, data is not protected with a single disk.

RAID 1 or JBOD

1. Select One new disk at the top of the left-hand column, then choose Add storage.
   
   
2. Select Network volume then choose Next.
   
   
3. Select the check box under the new disk then choose Next.
   
   
4. Select Custom then choose Next.
5. Select JBOD or RAID 1, then choose Next.
   
   
   
6. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the volume.
   
   
7. Though it is a RAID 1 volume, data is not protected with a single disk.
   

To expand a single-disk volume, see Hard Disk Expansion: Single-Disk and Unprotected Volumes.

There are many combinations of volumes and RAID configurations available on your LaCie NAS. While this manual cannot list every single option, you can use the steps below as a guide when you set up multiple volumes on your pool of storage.

This example will demonstrate the creation of two volumes using RAID 0 (performance) and SimplyRAID (protection). To add greater performance to this configuration, the administrator can bond the two Ethernet ports and create an iSCSI target on the RAID 0 volume. See Network and iSCSI Target for additional instructions. A router that supports port aggregation is required for Ethernet bonding.

Create the first volume:

1. If you have not inserted the hard drives into the LaCie 5big NAS Pro, please see Remove/Insert a Hard Disk for basic instructions. For a full explanation of adding disks to the enclosure, see Connect to the Network: Diskless LaCie 5big NAS Pro.
2. Choose Add storage.
   
   
3. Select Network volume and choose Next.
   
   
4. For this first volume, all disks are grey. A disk will turn blue once the box is checked.
   
   
5. Select the check box under the new disks and choose Next. In this example, we will create a RAID 0 volume using the first two disks.
   
   
6. Choose Custom to select the RAID level. Choose Next.
   
   
7. Select the RAID level and choose Next. This example shows RAID 0.
   
   
8. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the volume.
   
   
9. A RAID 0 volume takes less than five minutes to build. Note that the first volume has been created using the two hard drives. There are now three new disks on the top left.
   
   
   

Create the second volume:

1. Choose Add storage. Important: Do not select an existing volume with Add storage. Doing so could risk deleting the existing volume and its data.
   
   
2. Select Network volume and choose Next.
3. Note that the disks in the first volume are not available. Select the check box under the disks you want to use for the volume then choose Next. In this example, we will use the remaining three disks to create a SimplyRAID volume.
   
   
4. Select Quick setup for SimplyRAID and choose Next.
   
   
5. Review the summary window then choose Finish. A popup window cautions you that all data on the selected disks will be deleted to create the volume. Select Yes to build the volume.
   
   
6. A protected volume will take time to synchronize. Note that both volumes have been created and are ready for use.