latest firmware for RNDP4000 (ReadyNAS Pro 4)?

The problem can occur during the conversion or any OS upgrade thereafter.  The reason is unclear, most do not have the issue.  But several have reported it here.  But native OS6 units do not have a vpd file, so Netgear never addressed this issue.  They used to have somebody who could re-create it for you, but they no longer provide that.  Yes, without a valid VPD, your NAS is essentially bricked.  Your only option then is to get one from another unit and load it.   Better to back yours up.

paul-j-ghosh wrote:

What is the small risk and how small is it?  When does it happen?  If it does then is it bricked?

I didn't run into any snags when convering my own Pro 6, and it's been quite a while since I've seen any reports of problems with the conversion.

One scenario is if the the flash has already degraded, in which case the  failure would occur when the image was written to it. That would likely be unrecoverable (though with failing flash, the NAS would be on borrowed time anyway).

Another happened here:

• Problem upgrading ReadyNAS Ultra 4 to OS 6 | NETGEAR Communities

I think this was disk-related, and the poster was able to complete the conversion steps.

The main point in the disclaimer is to make it clear that you are doing this conversion at your own risk.

paul-j-ghosh wrote:

version of perl will be available on OS-6?

6.10.10 is the current version. 

• https://kb.netgear.com/000065999/ReadyNAS-OS-6-Software-Version-6-10-10

The conversion downloads install 6.9.5, so you'd upgrade manually after that.

paul-j-ghosh wrote:

Yes to OS-6

I recommend increasing the RAM before you begin.  Shipping OS-6 NAS have at least 2 GB of RAM, your ReadyNAS only has 1 GB.  It might work, but there have been folks who have run into out-of-memory issues after converting.  The upgrade is inexpensive, and is simple to do.  If you aren't sure what to purchase, you can open the chassis and examine the RAM that's already installed in order to find something compatible.

The first step is to back up the NAS.

It is easier to update the BIOS before conversion to OS-6.  So you optionally can install http://www.readynas.com/download/addons/x86/4.2/BIOS_Update_Package_0.5-x86.bin as an add-on and reboot the NAS.  Do this after you backup the NAS.  This isn't necessary, but if you do want to update the BIOS it is easiest to do it prior to conversion

Also, if you have the skills, you should probably back up the VPD before conversion.  Sometimes the flash can get corrupted, but backing it up could allow you to resolve the issue on your own if you run into it.  More information on this is here:

• Backup and restore of VPD file for legacy ReadyNAS running oS6 | NETGEAR Communities

Basic instructions for the conversion itself are

1. Upload PREPR4TOR6_0.1-x86.bin as an add-on using the ReadyNAS web gui, but do not reboot afterwards (avoids the need to do manual factory resets)
2. Upload R4toR6_6.9.5.bin using the ReadyNAS web gui firmware update
3. After you upload the addon+firmware and reboot, it will update the firmware and start a factory default.
4. Go through the setup process on the converted NAS 
5. Update the NAS to the current OS 6 (check for updates will NOT work).
6. Restore files from the backup.

There is a small risk that the process could fail, and if that were to happen it might not be possible to get the NAS running again.

Note that if you ever need to do a USB recovery later on, you will need to use the procedure for 4.2 systems - substituting an OS-6 image for the 4.2.31 one.

• https://kb.netgear.com/30267/RAIDiator-4-2-USB-Recovery-Tool