Troubleshooting a Degraded State in Synology NAS: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever faced challenges with your Synology NAS, you’re not alone. One common issue arises when new hard drives are mistakenly added to existing storage pools. Recently, I encountered this problem firsthand and want to share my experience along with potential solutions.

The Incident: A Misstep with Drive Configuration

In a quest to expand my NAS capabilities, I accidentally integrated a new hard drive into an existing storage pool configured in RAID, when my intention was to create a separate storage pool. Upon realizing my mistake and subsequently detaching the new drive, I was met with an unexpected situation: the original hard drive was now in a degraded state.

This brought forth a pressing question: What steps should I take to remedy the situation?

Steps to Resolve a Degraded State

1. Backup Your Data: The first and foremost step is to ensure that your data is safe. At this point, backing up the degraded drive to the newly added drive could be advantageous, especially if the original drive is on the brink of failing.

2. Reformat the Original Drive: Once you have a secure backup, the next task involves reformatting the original drive. This process should restore its status and prepare it for a new beginning.

3. Transfer Files Back: After the reformatting is complete, you can begin transferring your files from the new drive back to the original drive.

Preserving Your Plex Media

A significant concern for many users, including myself, involves preserving the integrity of applications like Plex Media Server. For those who utilize Plex, it’s crucial to understand that while backing up your media files is essential, metadata and playlists can also be at risk during this transition.

Here are a few tips to retain your Plex setup:

• Backup Your Plex Database: Before making any changes, consider backing up your Plex database. This action can often help restore your media library’s organization, including metadata and playlists, after transferring files.

• Careful Reinstallation: If you need to reinstall Plex after reformatting the original drive, ensure that you import your backed-up metadata to maintain your playlists and library structure seamlessly.

• Test Post-Migration: Once everything is transferred back and Plex is reconfigured, perform a thorough check to ensure that all your media files, metadata, and playlists are intact.

Conclusion

Accidents occur, but what matters most