How to create a hot spare disk via the Areca GUI

A hot spare disk (also known as a hot spare drive) automatically takes over the replacement function for a failed active drive in the RAID array.

In the Areca GUI, you can specify which of the newly inserted disks (of the same capacity) should take over the hot spare function. It does not matter in which slot the disk was inserted.

To do this, go to the sub-item Create Hot Spare under RAID set functions and integrate a newly inserted hard disk for a failed disk into a RAID set. At the same time, set the volume of the RAID set back to “Normal” status.

To replace a defective hard disk and create a hot spare. Call up the menu item “Create Hot Spare” under “RAIDset functions”.

The GUI then acknowledges the process with a success message.

Finally, check the status of your volume under “RAID Set Hierarchy”.

If a drive in the RAID set fails, the disk previously designated as a hot spare automatically steps in and takes over its role.
If you have defined a newly installed hard disk as a hot spare, it will replace the failed drive and be integrated into the RAID set during the rebuild.

Further RAID topics

Reserves properly used: Hot Spare versus Cold Spare

Why do security-conscious administrators prefer a cold spare HDD instead of a hot spare disk in the RAID?

Protecting RAID systems with BBU or SuperCapacitor

Protecting RAID systems with BBU or SuperCapacitor Protect the data in the several gigabyte large write cache with a BBU or a SuperCap.

RAID, ZFS, Erasure Coding, or Replica

Storage capacities of disk pools: Protected via RAID, ZFS, Replica or Erasure Coding to the right capacity

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