QNAP T-651迁移系统文件夹与应用设置至新卷并搭建RAID1的方法咨询

Hey there, I totally get wanting to avoid overspending on a second 14TB drive until you actually need it. Let's walk through both your preferred "clone then convert to RAID1" approach, plus the safer (but scarier-sounding) backup/snapshot restore method, with steps tailored to your QNAP T-651 running firmware 5.0.1.2248.

方案一：单盘克隆迁移 → 升级为RAID1（推荐，保留原RAID5作为退路） #

This method lets you keep your existing RAID5 intact until you're 100% sure the new setup works, so you have a safety net if anything goes wrong.

• Step 1: Prepare the new 14TB drive
  Insert your new WD Red 14TB drive into one of the empty bays on your T-651. Head to Storage & Snapshots > Storage > Create > Volume to initialize it as an Independent Volume. Make sure to select the same file system as your existing RAID5 (most likely EXT4 or Btrfs—check your current volume settings to match).

• Step 2: Back up your system configuration first
  This is non-negotiable to save all your network settings, user permissions, app configurations, and other system tweaks. Go to Control Panel > System > Backup/Restore > Configuration Backup. Export the configuration file to either the new 14TB volume or a USB drive (keep it somewhere safe!).

• Step 3: Migrate apps and data to the new volume

  • Apps: Open the App Center, go to Installed Apps. For most apps, you can select More > Move App to transfer them directly to the new 14TB volume. If an app doesn't support moving (some older or niche apps), back up its data first (e.g., Docker containers/images can be exported via Portainer or QNAP's built-in Docker backup tool), uninstall it, then reinstall it on the new volume and restore the data.
  • Files: Use File Station to bulk-copy all your shared folders from the RAID5 volume to the new 14TB volume. For larger datasets, use Hybrid Backup Sync to create a local replication task—it's more reliable for big transfers and can resume if interrupted.

• Step 4: Verify the new volume is fully functional
  Take time to test everything: check that all apps launch correctly, verify network settings (IP, SMB/NFS shares, remote access), and spot-check important files to ensure they copied over intact. Don't skip this step—wait a day or two to use the new volume normally before moving on.

• Step 5: Retire the old RAID5 volume
  Once you're confident the new setup works, go back to Storage & Snapshots > Storage, select your old RAID5 volume, and choose Manage > Unmount. You can then safely remove the two 6TB drives (you mentioned you'll use these separately later). Leave the original 14TB drive in its bay for now.

• Step 6: Convert the single 14TB volume to RAID1
  Insert the original 14TB drive (the one from your old RAID5) into an empty bay. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage, select your new 14TB single volume, choose Manage > Convert to RAID Group. Select RAID1 as the target configuration, then follow the on-screen wizard. The system will start synchronizing data to the second drive—this can take several hours depending on usage, but you can still use the volume while it runs (just expect slightly slower performance).

方案二：备份快照 → 重建RAID1（更谨慎，但需确认备份完整性） #

If you're worried about cloning issues, this method uses backups to start fresh, but it does require wiping your old RAID5 (hence the "scary" factor—so double-check everything first).

• Step 1: Initialize the new 14TB drive
  Same as Step 1 above: insert the drive, create an independent volume with the same file system as your RAID5.

• Step 2: Create a full backup/snapshot of your RAID5

  • Option 1 (Snapshots): Go to Storage & Snapshots > Snapshots, select your RAID5 volume, and create a Full Snapshot. Then copy this snapshot to the new 14TB volume (don't store it on the original RAID5—if that fails, you lose the backup).
  • Option 2 (Hybrid Backup Sync): Create a local backup task to copy the entire RAID5 volume to the new 14TB drive. This is more robust for full system backups.

• Step 3: Export system configuration
  Repeat Step 2 from方案一: export your config to a safe location.

• Step 4: Wipe the old RAID5 volume
  Only do this if you're 100% sure your backup is complete! Go to Storage & Snapshots > Storage, select the RAID5 volume, choose Manage > Delete. Select the option Delete the volume and erase all data (since you won't be using the 6TB drives in the new setup).

• Step 5: Create the new RAID1 volume
  Insert both the new 14TB drive and the original 14TB drive into empty bays. Go to Storage & Snapshots > Create > RAID Group, select RAID1, add both drives, and create the volume with your preferred file system.

• Step 6: Restore data and configuration

  • Restore your files from the backup/snapshot on the new 14TB drive to the RAID1 volume.
  • Go to Control Panel > System > Backup/Restore > Configuration Restore, import your saved config file, and reboot the QNAP.
  • Reinstall your apps from the App Center, then restore their backup data (e.g., Docker containers, media server libraries).

• Step 7: Verify everything works
  Same as Step 4 in方案一: test apps, network, files, and user permissions to ensure nothing broke during the restore.

关键注意事项 #

• Never skip the system config backup: This saves you hours of reconfiguring network settings, user accounts, and app preferences—way more critical than just copying files.
• Keep the old RAID5 intact until you're sure: Don't delete or wipe it until the new setup has been running smoothly for at least a week. If something goes wrong, you can switch back to the old volume.
• Plan for downtime (or low usage): Data transfers and RAID synchronization take time—schedule these tasks for when you won't be using the QNAP heavily (like overnight).

备注：内容来源于stack exchange，提问作者Poul