Replacing non-failed drives in a 9265-8i array

[sinisterDei]

So, I've got a 9265-8i running Windows with 12x 3TB drives in a RAID 6 array. All drives are online.

TWO of the drives are ST3000DM001 model drives, known to be highly failure prone over time.

I have in my possession two replacement drives, HGST 3TB units.

Is there a 'safer' method to replacing these drives in the array than simply yanking them one at a time and allowing a rebuild?

 

[mrkrad]

You could shutdown, remove A drive, and install a new drive. Power back up - rebuild - no power spikes to muck yo the other guys!

 

[sinisterDei]

Yeah. I was hoping there was some kind of hidden copy-to-spare option buried in the storage manager somewhere, but nobody has popped up with any suggestions of that. I suppose I'll just 'stair-step' replace drives.