Help! Repeating RAM Error

When did you purchase your ReadyNAS? Was it purchased brand new on/after Aug 21, 2007? If so, you could give NetGear a call for assistance with registering your product. The NAS would still be under warranty if this is the case and a RMA of your unit would probably the best way forward.

It's likely your RAM module failed and the new one is incompatible (yes memory manufacturers have changed memory modules rendering them incompatible without changing the module number). 3rd party memory upgrades are not supported. Best to try a memory module that someone has recently purchases and installed successfully in their Duo/NV/NV+.

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for your reply mdgm.

I went ahead and tried some RAM that had been recently removed from another ReadyNAS that I found on Craigslist. It didn't work. Now that two modules have failed, I think I can be sure that there's an issue with the socket and/or motherboard. I contacted tech support, but my devise is longer under warranty as it was purchased in February of '07, so they can't really do anything to help me.

At this point I'm just looking for some general advice from folks who have a lot of experience managing large amounts of data; shifting it around, etc. I'm going to go ahead and ask intentionally basic questions.

As I see it, I have to replace the unit, but I'd prefer to take this opportunity and upgrade to an Ultra, NVX (as I read they're quieter and faster), or maybe even a Promise Pegasus. But, I understand that, unfortunately, it'd have to be another NV+ if I am to just swap the discs into a new NAS.

I do have a backup, but I have yet to figure out how current it is (this is a bit of a pain because it's formatted with ext3 and I keep my linux machine at work). I tried to run one as my NAS was starting to act up and am not sure if it took.

The good news is that I have access to a ReadyNAS NV+ at work in the evening--but I really don't want to take any risks with it. Would it be smart to just swap out its disk trays for my personal ones and copy everything onto another disk via USB....so if I do upgrade to a new NAS, I can easily copy my files onto it? If I'm dealing with about 1TB, is this something that's going to take 14 hrs, or can I get it done pretty quickly if I enable fast USB writing? Any tips or warnings here?, from transporting my personal disks to copying the data off the NAS.

As for upgrading, is the NVX a good bet? I always found the NV+ a little slow (even with a gig of RAM).

Was that memory you bought on craigslist one from a Duo/NV/NV+. As for memory suggestions I'd suggest looking here: http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=110

The pins etc on the memory module need to match the positions on your module that used to work in your NV+.

You could migrate your disks to another NV+ if you like (http://www.readynas.com/kb/faq/boot/how_do_i_migrate_disks_over_from_an_existing_readynas_to_another).

For fastest speeds it'd be best to copy direct from a NV+ to a new NAS. NFS is pretty quick.

The bottleneck on the NV+ mainly isn't the RAM. Upgrading the RAM to 1GB may make a small improvement in performance.

x86 Desktop ReadyNAS (e.g. NVX, Ultra, Pro) already come with 1GB RAM. They have much faster CPUs than the NV+ and hence much better performance

The NVX is a good NAS but it has a 32-bit CPU. Personally I'd go with a Ultra/Ultra Plus/Pro Series device. The Pro Series (Pro 2/4/6) has 5 years warranty (vs 3 years on Ultra/Ultra Plus). Pro Series has business features.

If you purchase a new Ultra 4, Ultra 4 Plus or Pro 4 (NVX units are about gone out of the supply channel as they have not been in production for about a year) the best way is to transfer the data over a network. Perhaps you can borrow the NV+ over a weekend to copy your data over to the new unit. That is the fastest way to get the data onto your unit. If you borrow the work NV+, shut it down, removed the trays and drives, noting which bay each was in. (Post-It notes will work fine for this on a temporary basis). Do the same with yours so the drive you had in bay 1 of your unit goes into bay 1 of the borrowed unit etc.

Depending on the size of the volume, it can take some time. I would divide the size of your array by 10 MB/s as a rough guide. It may be faster, and it may be slower.

You said you had found another NAS on Craigslist. What model? Does the memory module that was in it work in it still? If you install a single test drive (not part of your array) will it boot and initialize?

FWIW - if you have a bone yard of laptops available, the memory module from my HP zv5330us works in my NV+ (Infrant) I upgraded the laptop to a 1GB module from a 256MB module years ago. When I discovered the numbers on the module (circa 2005) matched the recommended module on the now removed list, I tried it and ran the memory test several times. I had the 1GB in my NV+ for several months until I needed the laptop again, when I returned the original 256MB module back into the NAS so I could use the laptop.

Thanks guys,

Just to be clear. I didn't find a new NAS yet on Craigslist (though I am looking). I found someone selling RAM that had been removed from a an NV+. My NAS won't boot with the Crucial module I bought (which was recommended in the forums) or this Craigslist one.

I think you've pretty much answered my questions. I'm going to rescue my data by copying it onto an external 1.5TB drive using the NV+ at work and shop around for an Ultra.

Whilst that crucial module has been recommended in the past if you look at recent posts (as I suggested) some have had issues with it. I still think you could have tried incompatible or damaged modules.

Memory manufacturers have a bad habit of changing modules rendering them incompatible but keeping the same module number.

OK. Might as well try one more. Amazon is pretty friendly about returns!

I'll do some more research and order one up.