====== RAID - mdadm - Convert a RAID 5 to a RAID 6 ======

===== Do the Conversion =====

<code bash>
mdadm --grow /dev/md0 --raid-devices 4 --level 6 --backup-file=/root/md0-backup-file.bak
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  Additional disks can also be added if the original RAID 5 had less than 4 disks.

<code bash>
mdadm --add /dev/md0 /dev/sdd1
mdadm --grow /dev/md0 --raid-disks=4 --level 6 --backup-file=/root/md0-backup-file.bak
</code>

  * where **--raid-disks=4**: is the new number of disks.

</WRAP>


----

===== Check that the conversion worked =====

<code bash>
mdadm --detail /dev/md0
cat /proc/mdstat
</code>

----

===== Update the mdadm configuraton file =====

Edit the **/etc/mdadm/mdadm.conf** file, such that the line **spares=1** changed to **spares=0**.