Being new to ReadyNAS there were various things I wanted to know.One of these was the NAS Disk Test, either via boot options, or scheduled volume settings on recent OS.The tests are a SMART Extended disk test and run time depends on disk model and size, not volume of data on disk.Thus repeat tests with the same kit should take a similar time, testing all disks in parallel.Now having understood more about it, the obvious question is how long does it take.I have now run 2 scheduled disk tests and supply my data (first line) along with that from others.So I suggest that those who are interested post their information here, similar to the format below.Disks ......... Type ..................... Disk Test time ...... Comment6 of 4 TB .... WD40EFRX (Red) ....... 3 Hrs 15 Mins ....... (avg) 3 hrs 17 mins and 3 hrs 13 mins. Very consistent.6 of 4 TB .... WD40EFRX (Red) ...... 16 Hrs 21 Mins ....... Same system as above? (See http://www.readynas.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=81427)2 of 3 TB .... WD30EFRX (Red) ....... 3 Hrs 33 Mins ....... (avg) 4 hrs 5 mins and 3 hrs 1 min.3 of 3 TB .... WD30EFRX (Red) ....... 7 Hrs 38 Mins ....... (avg) 7 hrs 50 mins and 7 hrs 26 min.2 of 6 TB .... WD60EFRX (Red) ....... 12 Hrs ............... Aprox.I hope this will be a useful post providing new users a good quality expectation of how long their system might take.Obviously more data for different disk types would be very useful.PLEASE ADD YOUR DATA TO THIS POST with any comments, and I will update the above.05/03/15 Update to add new data and other minor changes.

The test is run by the drive firmware, not the NAS. So run time depends on the disk model, and nothing else.

To run an offline test on demand you could power off the NAS and use the boot menu option.

StephenB wrote:My WD60EFRX test ran about 11 minutes on my RN202 a couple days ago. I am thinking that Netgear may have switched to the short SMART test.Poking a bit more, there appears to be something wrong with the disk test on the 6.3.3 beta kernel (at least with WD60EFRX).

There are some bugs here.With spindown enabled, the log said the disk test on my WD60EFRX completed quickly. But what actually happened is that the disk was spun down at that "completion" time. When I ran smartctl the next morning, the test was actually still running.I disabled spindown and ran the test the next night. This time the actual completion time was logged (about 12 hours).Netgear says there are some fixes in the works.

Confirming a bug similar to StephenB. I scheduled an overnight disk test, only to find the system non-responsive in the morning. Forced restart and it spent the next 12 hours resynchronizing (X-Raid).

NAS Disk Test - Find out how long?

15 Replies

StephenB
Guru
Feb 05, 2015
The test is run by the drive firmware, not the NAS. So run time depends on the disk model, and nothing else.
BaJohn
Virtuoso
Feb 05, 2015
StephenB wrote:
The test is run by the drive firmware, not the NAS. So run time depends on the disk model, and nothing else.

Thanks - I have modified the post to take account of that.
I still think the information is useful as a guide to people and what to expect from their equipment.

Presumably the disks are tested one after the other rather than in parallel?
StephenB
Guru
Feb 05, 2015
I don't know for sure, but I believe they likely are tested in parallel???
StephenB
Guru
Feb 05, 2015
Disks ......... Type ..................... Disk Test time
6 of 4 TB .... WD40EFRX (Red) ....... 3 Hrs 17 Mins
2 of 3 TB .... WD30EFRX (Red) ....... 3 Hrs 33 Mins (avg)

My setup is jbod. Disk 1 took 4 hours, 5 minutes in the last test. Disk 2 took 3 hours, 1 minute. No idea why the times are so different. Disk 1 was an RMA replacement (my only WDC Red to fail).
BaJohn
Virtuoso
Mar 16, 2015
My first 2 Disk Tests were taking 3 hrs 17 mins and 3hrs 13 mins, as detailed above at beginning of this post.
My third Disk test that was scheduled at the weekend took 31 mins ONLY. (Edited as 31 NOT 13 mins originally shown)

When the first 2 Disk Tests were carried out it was when nothing was being copied to it etc.
I was expecting a similar time for the third Disk test, which was scheduled overnight.
Note that the data has not changed much and I believe that the time to run is not dependant on the data loaded.
I have checked and rechecked the timings in the logs.

Is it possible that there was some significant event that curtailed the test AND the event was NOT recorded in the GUI logs?
The 2 entries for the recent Disk Test are adjacent in the GUI logs.
StephenB
Guru
Mar 16, 2015
Have you upgraded firmware since the last test?

My WD60EFRX test ran about 11 minutes on my RN202 a couple days ago. I am thinking that Netgear may have switched to the short SMART test.

StephenB wrote:
The test is run by the drive firmware, not the NAS. So run time depends on the disk model, and nothing else.

BaJohn

Virtuoso

Mar 16, 2015

StephenB wrote:
Have you upgraded firmware since the last test?

My WD60EFRX test ran about 11 minutes on my RN202 a couple days ago. I am thinking that Netgear may have switched to the short SMART test.

StephenB wrote:
Have you upgraded firmware since the last test? My WD60EFRX test ran about 11 minutes on my RN202 a couple days ago. I am thinking that Netgear may have switched to the short SMART test.

No, all 3 tests were on OS 6.2.2, BUT quirkily the 'Check For Updates' link does not return any "You have the latest ..." anymore. There is no message whatsoever.
Presumably you have upgraded recently?

Where would I look in the downloaded log files to find an error with Disk Test (that was not reported in the GUI logs).
I did mention in another post that it would be nice to know what the most important log files were. Is there a description somewhere?

Labdoc1
Luminary
Apr 01, 2015
I have scheduled a disk test this evening and will report. Question: is there a way to do a Disk Test on demand, rather than scheduled? It is not in the menus on OS6.3.3 beta 11 whereas Scrubbing, Defrag and Balance are available on the menu.
mdgm-ntgr
NETGEAR Employee Retired
Apr 01, 2015
To run an offline test on demand you could power off the NAS and use the boot menu option.
StephenB
Guru
Apr 01, 2015
StephenB wrote:
My WD60EFRX test ran about 11 minutes on my RN202 a couple days ago. I am thinking that Netgear may have switched to the short SMART test.
Poking a bit more, there appears to be something wrong with the disk test on the 6.3.3 beta kernel (at least with WD60EFRX).