Drive Firmware Update Process for ReadyNAS

What is the full model of your drive (example: ST2000DL003-9VT166) and what is the firmware version listed on the label? (The additional number will probably be shown on the P/N line).

Note, when removing the drives to check the label, the unit should be turned off, then the drive may be removed. Please either make note of which bay each drive is in, or only remove one at a time. When all four drives are back in their respective bays, the unit can be rebooted. If you remove the drive while it is on, it is considered a hot removal the the drive might be marked as dead. The term hot swap refers to removing a drive, letting the unit mark it as dead and then removed, and then hot adding a REPLACEMENT drive. In the best case the same drive replaced after a hot removal/replacement would be wiped and then resynched. In this case if you remove a second drive during the resync (which can take 8 hours or more) you would cause a dual drive failure and the array would likely be compromised.

When flashing the firmware on any drive it would have to be connected to an SATA port. Yes an eSATA port should work, but that does not answer the question about the power connection. The SATA connection internal to a desktop would also have a power connector available.

You can combine an eSATA->SATA cable with an inexpensive SATA/IDE -> USB converter kit. The kit usually includes a power brick with a SATA power connector, which can be used separately.

I've used this approach quite successfully when testing both WD and Seagate drives.

You can combine an eSATA->SATA cable with an inexpensive SATA/IDE -> USB converter kit. The kit usually includes a power brick with a SATA power connector, which can be used separately. I've used this approach quite successfully when testing both WD and Seagate drives.

Can you tell me where to get this? Maybe a URL so I purchase the right kit?

The AC to Molex/SATA power adapter is found as part of a kit to connect an SATA or IDE bare drive to a USB port. I have one that I had problems with the SATA power connection and went another way. However, while searching Newegg, I came across this interesting kit. When you click on the link, it will show the main signal module, so move your cursor on the thumbnail image of all the kit parts. When the larger image is of the kit parts, click on it to get a larger image. Note on the left a power brick that converts 120VAC to the 5 and 12 VDC and a cable with a molex power connector. That is the first time I have seen one like this. Next to it is the standard modular power cord (I have a box full of these) and then the third item from the left is a standard molex to SATA power connector. (I have several of these as well). The rest of the kit is of no immediate use, because you cannot do what you want via a USB port.

The other thing you will need is an eSATA to SATA signal cable. These are available but not common, here is a sample of one that I found on Newegg. Notice the ears on the side of the eSATA connector and a standard SATA connector on the other end. Be sure to read the description when doing a search. In a search of eSATA to SATA cable, there were 328 items listed, only three of which I found to be eSATA to SATA cables, the rest were either conversion boxes, docks or standard SATA cables.

I am assuming that you do not have a desktop, but have a laptop with an eSATA port as i would be far easier (and less expensive) to do it with a desktop.

Laptop only at this point. May be easier to resolve my problem by sending the drives back. Thanks for the information. I will do research this weekend.

I pulled all 4 drives one at a time when the ReadyNAS was powered down.

The full Part Number on the drive was:
9VT166-302

F/W:
CC3C

Does that help in understanding if I will have the issue with these drives? I have minimal time left to send them back.

I tried to find a definitive answer on the Seagate website, but cannot. I did find this discussion on the Seagate forums, perhaps you could join the conversation and get an answer, or just contact Seagate technical support.

Their website used to have be a good source of information on firmware upgrades, but now it seems hard to find.

Update: found the discussion I was looking for - http://forums.seagate.com/t5/Barracuda-XT-Barracuda-Barracuda/ST2000DL003-CC32-vs-CC3C-firmware-question/m-p/157499

I contacted Seagate support. Their reply was:

Per our system your hard drive is not experiencing a FIRMWARE issue.