NV+ = Segate ES.2 vs. Constellation

I think it probably should work fine. I think it's unfortunate that NetGear doesn't appear to be qualifying enterprise disks for the NV+ any more despite many of its users purchasing it back when it was an enterprise product and still being covered by warranty.

Edit: I just took a look and the compatibility list and there is a Hitachi enterprise drive on the list.

Hi,

I have a number of older ReadyNAS boxes using ST31000340NS drives. Some of those drives are starting to fail. I too have found that these drives are no longer available and are being replaced by ST31000524NS drives. As per Flash's post these drives appear functionally identical to the older model but they are not listed against older models in the Hardware Compatibility List.

The support warning about not using unsupported drives is quite blatant and strongly worded. Can someone from Netgear please advise us on using these newer, replacement models. I would like to see something in writing so that our support options are not restricted. Either the Hardware Compatibility List should be updated or can a Jedi make a statement here that Netgear Support personal will accept.

Regards,
Ian.

I heard back from Seagate support today who confirmed:

Yes the ST31000524NS drive would the the closest match but not exact.

So we're on the right track as far as the most suitable drive to use alongside the older ES.2 models. I got a response online from Seagate within an hour today, I'd love it if someone from the ReadyNAS crew could chime in quickly.

Hi,

*BUMP*

Would someone official from Netgear please respond to this thread. I really need to make a move on replacing the failing disks. I would like to stick with Seagate drives as all the other disks in use are currently Seagates.

Regards,
Ian.

This is a forum of ReadyNAS users. While Netgear staff will occasionally drop by, they are not on the forum all the time.

Of course since you are in the U.S., you can still get the ST1000340NS from eAgis.

Hi PapaBear,

PapaBear wrote:
This is a forum of ReadyNAS users. While Netgear staff will occasionally drop by, they are not on the forum all the time. Of course since you are in the U.S., you can still get the ST1000340NS from eAgis.

Wrong on both counts!

I am based in Australia. All local suppliers I have contacted have run out of Barracuda ES.2 drives.

All the various Jedi admin users here are Netgear staff and/or ReadyNAS developers etc.

Regards,
Ian.

Sorry, that response was intended for Flash, who lives in Houston, Tx. The Jedi drop by on occasion, they are not on the forum full time. While they are the admins, they typically come on to respond to reported problem posts (such as SPAM) and respond to selected questions.

PapaBear wrote:
Sorry, that response was intended for Flash, who lives in Houston, Tx. The Jedi drop by on occasion, they are not on the forum full time. While they are the admins, they typically come on to respond to reported problem posts (such as SPAM) and respond to selected questions.

I guess I'm remembering the good ol' days (note my forum join date) when we could get official responses here very quickly. This was the primary reason I started buying ReadyNAS products and recommending them to friends and family.

PapaBear wrote:
Of course since you are in the U.S., you can still get the ST1000340NS from eAgis.

At $180 no thanks. That's something like $30 more than when I bought an ES.2 drive seven months ago. Price aside, a strategy of buying up all remaining stock of a now discontinued drive is hardly a long term solution for the numerous NV+ owners who have those drives deployed. The NV+ was the top-of-the-line ReadyNAS unit for a while so I assume it was intended to last for more than a few years. We need a clear hard drive replacement path with enterprise drives.

Netgear has obviously tested the Constellation ES drives in newer products so they have them on hand. They need to spend a little time testing them in the older units and let us know one way or another if they'll work or not. Otherwise why would I spend money on an Ultra/Pro 6 later this year (or continue recommending them to others) if I have to worry about this same situation playing out 4 years from now when current drives are discontinued and I need to expand or replace.

After I saw this post from December, asking the exact same question, still without a reply I lost all hope of receiving a timely reply to mine.
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=49010

It is disappointing. Years ago we got quick official responses to our questions and that prompted many of us to support the ReadyNAS line with our purchases and recommendations. I guess it is understandable that with the products receiving much more mainstream attention and I assume explosive growth over the past few years we'd lose some of that close attention we used to receive. That doesn't mean I shouldn't be disappointed by it and at least expect some reply. Shoot, even a reply of "we haven't tested it and don't plan to" would be better than silence.

I went ahead an ordered one of the ST31000524NS drives and will just have to pray that I don't lose any data when I try to expand onto it.. I'll report back and let everyone know how it goes.

Hi Flash,

I too am a ling time ReadyNAS user, starting in the old Infrant days. (It looks like I joined only days before you. :)) I have also heavily promoted the ReadyNAS professionally and to friends. I also remember the days when the Jedis were *very* fast to respond to *any* question or issue. It looks like those days have passed and it is time to start re-evaluating my NAS recommendations.

Like you I can't wait any longer and have purchased a new Constellation disk in an attempt to rescue a failing RAID set. I am sure the disk will work initially the question is more about longer term compatibility and more importantly stability. Given that Netgear won't talk to us I suppose time will have to tell us how well this new model drive will perform.

Regards,
Ian.

The Jedi have commented before in other threads. I remember a Jedi saying that they use enterprise disks in their test units (they of course have lots of units they have to test firmware on) even if they haven't qualified them for users. I don't think you'll have a problem, but it would be nice if they would comment in this thread and put some SeaGate enterprise disks through their extensive testing in order to qualify them for the NV+.

I don't care if they don't bother to test them on the Duo. The Duo was never targeted at business users so in my opinion there's no need to qualify enterprise disks for it.